Guan Eng takes dig at federal govt on mission schools

GEORGE TOWN: The federal government should support mission schools as they produce excellent students of all races, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.
He urged the government to invest more in these schools as they are contributing to the country's growth.
"Do not neglect mission schools. When you invest in education, you will not lose but gain. (That's the case for) any school for that matter. We hope that they (federal government) will invest in mission schools (too)," he told reporters after opening the new block at SMK Convent Green Lane.
Lim took a dig at Putrajaya when he said he was sad that the state government could contribute a little bit more than the federal government to the cost of erecting the new block.
Earlier in his speech, Lim congratulated all who have been involved in the completion of the new building.
He said mission school have played an important role in the education system of the country.
"When the Sisters first came to Malaya, they dedicated themselves to the education of young girls and gave them knowledge," he said.
He also questioned those who want to stop education for girls and described them as primitive and anti-humanity.
"When you teach a man, you teach an individual, but when you teach a woman, you teach a village," he said.
Mooted by former principal Lim Yen Lee in 2011, the Parent Teacher Association of the school worked on improving the infrastructure and providing more conducive learning for the students.
Construction of the building began in 2015 and was completed two years later at a cost of RM2.51 million.
It was funded via public donations with contributions from the state and federal governments.
The new building has enabled the school to go single session this year and has indirectly helped to ease traffic congestion along Jalan Masjid Negeri in the evening.
The school currently has 982 students, 64 teachers and 10 support personnel.