No urgency to build more SJKC for now: Mahdzir Khalid

KUALA NERANG: There is no urgent need to build more National Type Chinese Schools (SJKC), says Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
He said building new schools in both urban and rural areas should be based on the growth of the local population density.
"To construct a new school, we should look at the necessity first. If the area shows vibrant development and economic activities with a high population living there, only then can we build a new school to meet the needs of students.
"If one school has 3,000 students and cannot accommodate all of them, it's just logical to build a new school," he told reporters here today.
Mahdzir was commenting on the insistence by the Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) that the government build 34 other SJKCs following approval for the construction of 10 SJKCs by end of 2017.
He said that last year, the federal government through the Education Ministry had approved the construction of 10 SJKCs in Johor and Selangor, which were expected to commence within the next two years.
"We (ministry) will focus on the construction of these 10 schools first. However, we do not reject requests from any party for the construction of a new school but detailed study needs to be carried out first before any decision can be made," he said.
Earlier, Mahdzir presented basic necessities to 50 staff of the Padang Terap District Health Department at the Kuala Nerang Hospital compound. — Bernama