The YDP and I met up with the Pengetua this morning. I had suggested to the YDP that he should not sign the Application Form. This will "create a scene" as the school will not be able to collect any fees next year (That would truly be free education !!) but the Pengetua advised us against it. After some discussions, we decided not to make life difficult for our kids. It would not be fair on them though I really wanted to show the decision makers that they have blundered.
We also discussed some steps the school should take to inform the parents about the actual situation with regards to the school fees. The PIBG will be around on the first day of school to explain to the parents that in Malaysia free education means "that the word 'yuran' does not appear anywhere. But you still have to make "bayaran tambahan" which is actually more than the previous yuran. If they are not happy please write or call the Ministers or MOE. We will provide the parents with the necessary contacts.
On another note, I received a call from one of our computer teachers that next year we will not be able to collect fees for our Computer classes. For the past 7 years the PIBG has been running computer classes for Forms 1 and 2 students. This introductory computer classes were designed to provide early exposure to all students. Not all students have PCs at homes. To run these classes and also ensure that the equipment are always in tune with the times, we collect RM70 per student per year. For the real poor students the PIBG will subsidize (either partly or fully) these yuran. For the past few years, out of the total of almost 600 students less than 1% defaulted in their payments. For the last 2 years, the collection was 100%. This is partly because of the good work of the teachers and also the fact that the parents are willing to pay for the classes. And now we cannot continue to collect the fees. How are we going to run the classes? The answer given by the MOE was to use the computers that were given by them more than 5 years ago. Out of the 20 given, currently only 5 are working. The computers do not even have USB ports. The operating systems are obsolete. I can go on. We cannot repair because the MOE has a maintenance contract with a big company. Compare this with the 40 new computers that the PIBG lab has, sufficient memory, 17" LCD monitor and much more. We upgrade the hardware every 2-3 years. The used computers are given to other users in the school such the teachers' room, library etc. So we are in another dilemma.
The more I write, the more depressed I become so I better stop. Enough of this sh...
God help us.... please
1 comment:
As the YDP PIBG of my daughter's school in Melawati (togetehr with the rest of PIBGs in this area) we are taking the same stand; i.e NOT accepting the propsal made by Kementerian. As a matter of fact we have semd our official protest to Ketua Pengarah Pelajaran for thier inconsideration and going against what Pak Lah has specifically mentioned in his Budget 2008 speech ... FRE EDUCATION. We felt cheated.
Our letter was copied to Hishamuddin Hussien, Hon Choon Kim, Noh Omar and the rest.
We will teach them how to do it right at the next election ...
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