Partially-aided Tamil schools need help too

Monday May 5, 2008- the star

TAPAH: The Government should stop using the excuse that it cannot help 373 Tamil schools because they are partially aided.

MIC central working committee member Datuk M. Saravanan, who is also Deputy Federal Territories Minister, said the Government should not run away from its commitment to build or upgrade these schools because of their status.

Of the 523 Tamil schools in the country, 373 are partially-aided and built mostly on private land, he said.

“One of the reasons we lost the support of the Indian community was because the Government could not understand our needs and wants,” he told reporters yesterday.

“The Indian community is not asking for mega projects like the Twin Towers. We want Tamil schools, temples and jobs in the public sector.

“Is it so difficult for the Government to help the 373 partially-aided schools?”

On Saturday, Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said ministry officials were meeting school directors and supervisors for their feedback on the status of 523 Tamil schools in the country.