TELUK INTAN, April 15 — A total of 3,038 schools in Malaysia are categorised as under-enrolled this year, with fewer than 150 pupils each.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said that although the schools were categorised as under-enrolled (SKM), they would continue to be given attention by the ministry, and none would be closed.
“This includes providing allocations for necessary facilities and upgrading work to give equal balance to all types of schools,” he told the press after visiting SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Samak in Ulu Bernam today.
In Perak alone, there are 419 under-enrolled schools, and for this year the State Education Department (JPN) allocated RM38,000 to all government schools regardless of the number of students.
The Education Ministry (MOE) has also developed several strategies to deal with the issue under the SKM Implementation Roadmap initiative.
Wong said the strategies include implementing combined classes, merging under-enrolled schools, and transferring or relocating the schools.
“The combined classes would involve Standard Two, Standard Three, Standard Four, and Standard Five pupils in schools with an enrollment of 30 students and below,” he said.
Earlier, Wong visited six schools in the Teluk Intan Parliamentary constituency and presented a RM50,000 allocation to each school for upgrading and maintenance work.
— Bernama
