NEW SCHOOL TERM: Yong (front third left) looks at textbooks presented to some SM Min Lit students.
KUCHING: Parents and schools should work together to support the development of Chinese-medium education, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng.
He said this when launching SM Min Lit Batu Kawa’s new school year yesterday.
“In view of its growing importance as a global language, it is important for parents to show their support for Chinese education,” he said.
Yong said he was very encouraged by the increase in the school’s student intake, which brought the total number of students to 146 this year.
“There are four Chinese-medium primary schools around Batu Kawa. If 20 per cent of their pupils are to continue their secondary studies here, it will be a healthy number of student intake every year,” he noted.
Yong also praised the school’s improved public examination results compared to previous years and commended the teachers for their contribution.
“I hope teachers will work hand in hand in creating a fun, interesting and conducive learning environment for all students.
“They should work together in bringing greater progress and achievements to the school in the future, as an effort to further promote the overall development of Chinese education,” he said.
Addressing the 32 Form 1 students, Yong pointed out that secondary school life is different from primary school.
“You are no longer young children but teenagers entering a new phase in life. I hope you will enjoy your secondary school education process and grab every opportunity to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills. Strive hard to excel in your studies,” he said.
Yong later presented an RM40,000 government grant to school board chairman Penghulu Thien Shin Fung for the school’s annual activities.