KUCHING: The construction of the new complex of St Joseph’s Private Primary and Secondary Schools is on track for the completion by the end of this year.
Its pro tem principal Dominic Pan said the foundation work of the RM13 million building had been completed.
“The completion is on target. The foundation has been done and very soon you can see the building.”
The modern campus of the first Catholic Mission private schools here will have 24 classes.
The three-storey building will also have a chapel, a language laboratory and a well-equipped library.
Looking forward to the new building, Pan said they had to turn down many Year One and Form One students due to the limited spaces. Currently, the classes are housed at the present St Joseph’s Parish Tuition Centre.
The schools, which commenced in January, has a total of 145 students in five classes – 30 for Year One, 10 for Year Two and 105 for Form 1.
“We have received overwhelming response from parents since we started this year. But for now, we can’t take any more students because we have only one block which is shared by both the primary and secondary schools,” said Pan.
He explained that the number of students were limited to 30 per class for primary and 35 per class for secondary.
There are two classes each for Year One and Two and one class for Year Three in 2013, he pointed out.
“We will open three classes each for Form One and Two next year. In future, we are targeting to have three classes for each Form. We may even have A-level class but it will be in five to six years’ time.”
SJPPSS has 10 secondary and six primary teachers, said Pan, adding that the number of teachers would increase in tandem with the number of classes.
“Our rule of thumb is 2 to 2.5 teachers per class. All our teachers have rich experiences. They view their service to the schools as service to the church.”
Although the school is religion related, it, however, welcomes students from all background, Pan said, pointing out that Bible study is not a compulsory subject.
On the charges of the school, he admitted that it might be relatively high as it covered many different fees such as the one-off admission fee, school fee and miscellaneous fee.
The one-off admission fee for the first child is RM2,000, second child — RM1,000, third child — RM500 and free for fourth child and above. The miscellaneous fee is RM400.
The school fees per annum or four terms for Year One to Three are RM3,600, Year Four to Six (RM4,000), Form 1 to 2 (RM4,400), Form 3 (RM4,800), Form 4 (RM5,800) and Form 5 (RM6,200).
The secondary school is conducting an assessment test on May 19 for students who want to enrol for next year’s Form 1.
Pan said the test is aimed to better understand the level of each student.
However, the school might hold face-to-face conversation with Year One new students, as any form of test is not appropriate for children of that age.
Contact 082-414575 for more information on the private schools.