(From third left) Ting and Tang receiving the school’s uniform from Lu (second right) and Kong (second left).
SIBU: Parents planning to send their children overseas for further studies may want to consider enrolling them at SM Wong Nai Siong.
Sibu United Chinese Association president Ting Huat Chie said this at the school’s dialogue with parents yesterday.
He said SM Wong Nai Siong school was set up in commemoration of the Foochow settlement here.
“Today, the school is well equipped and has a professional teaching team,” he said, adding that its development had seen leaps and bounds.
“Chinese education development is now set in a conducive atmosphere. For example, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has adopted a policy of moderation towards Chinese private education development and has given funding towards it,” he explained.
In perspective, Ting said the Perak state government had given 2,500 acres of land for Chinese schools to be developed.
He said the government also granted funds systematically towards Chinese education in Penang and Selangor.
“The school must ‘move out’ in its recruitment campaign. If we can recruit students from China, it will be easier for them to apply for overseas universities after their studies at SM Wong Nai Siong,” he suggested.
To that end, Ting said the school has formed a sisterhood (twinning) pact with a school in Kutien, China. “Recruitment could be easier in that way,” he added.
Ting said of the over 200 renowned universities in the world, 82 of them recognise the United Examination Certificate (UEC) of Malaysia.
UEC is the certified examination of private Chinese schools.
Foochow Association vice chairman Tang Tung King, who also spoke, said SM Wong Nai Siong was the only Chinese school in the country being named after a historical figure.
“Over 47 years, Sibu community and the school board of management have helped build SM Wong Nai Siong into a renowned school,” he said.
He said the school had achieved excellent results in academic performance as well as in other areas.
He assured parents of a wise decision to enroll their children at SM Wong Nai Siong.
Among those present was the school’s acting principal Lu Yew Hiing and Kong Chung Men of the school’s board of management committee.