KUCHING: The relocation of two Chinese schools will be revised and reviewed by Education Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching on April 4, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Assistant Minister Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong said in a press conference at DAP headquarters here today, that there was a need for the relocation of the two schools to Kuching.
A school in Bako and the other from Kainan, Sibu will be relocated to the Taman Stutong area in Kuching.
“I have requested Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching to come to Sarawak on April 4 and have a meeting with all Sarawak education officers, to go through all the documentations for both Bako and Kainan schools,” he said.
Chong said the two schools had not yet been approved for relocation, as for the school in Bako, they have their letter of authorisation for the approval of relocation, which was shown around to the media stating that the school had been approved to be relocated.
He added that the authorisation was signed on May 5, 2018 whereas the voting day was on May 9, which was just perfect timing for the news to be shared around, they then checked with the Federal Education Department and confirmed that there was no such authorisation signed.
“It states that it was signed by the Sarawak Education Department but it was never given an approval,” he said.
Chong added that there was no such authorisation on the school relocation in all of the states as there was another document for it.
“The procedure for any Chinese schools is that all documents must be prepared at the state-level, which will be submitted to the federal-level and when all necessary documents are in order then the ministry will give two approvals, which is the approval for relocation and approval for building plan.
“We have simplified and expedited the application for relocation and building plan for the schools.
“Whatever is needed for the ministry and the federal-level for their approval, all the documentations needed are in order and ready before the state submit it to the federal,” he said.
He said they had taken extra steps to ensure that all documents required were in order and once it was confirmed, then it would be submitted.
“And at the ministry-level, we will just do an endorsement to approve,” Chong said.
He advised schools that they could submit the application for relocation and application for building plan together.
