PENANG is synonymous with pioneering initiatives. In line with this, the Penang Tamil Schools Special Committee has launched the state’s first-ever programme to provide tables and chairs to Tamil schools, aimed at enhancing essential learning facilities.
State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Sundarajoo Somu, who also heads the committee, shared that a total of 2,433 sets of tables and chairs, with an allocation of RM345,486, will be distributed to all 28 Tamil schools in Penang.
According to Sundarajoo, the distribution will be carried out in phases to ensure the process runs smoothly and meets the needs of every school.
“The tables and chairs in most of the schools are in need of replacement, and this issue was raised by our committee’s vice-chairman, Bagan Dalam assemblyman YB K.Kumaran.
“For phase 1, a total of 500 sets of tables and chairs are being distributed today, covering Tamil schools in the Northeast and Southwestern Districts,” Sundarajoo said during his speech at the phase 1 distribution ceremony at SJKT Subramaniya Barathee today.
Sundarajoo also shared that the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Penang will be contributing a total of 60 air conditioners, with two units to be distributed to each school.
“Another aspect that the committee will be focusing on is the spiritual development of students, in line with the first principle of the ‘Rukun Negara’, which emphasises belief in God.
“We would like to set up a small altar in every school, with a total allocation of RM5,000, to ensure that the children’s belief in God remains strong and does not fade over time,” he said.
Apart from that, Sundarajoo, who is also the Perai assemblyman, highlighted the importance of transparency in school administration.
He said a course will be arranged in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for members of the school boards of governors (LPS) and parent-teacher associations (PTAs). Sundarajoo added that Tamil school headmasters had previously attended a similar course.
Meanwhile, Kumaran emphasised the importance of upgrading infrastructure to create a more conducive learning environment for students, while also highlighting the need to equip Tamil schools with tablets to advance digital learning.
“Under the leadership of Datuk Seri Sundarajoo, who is an outstanding leader and never says no, every suggestion is not only welcomed but thoughtfully enhanced and elevated to an even greater level.
“We only expect one thing from you (headmasters), which is to take Tamil education and our students to greater heights,” he said, while emphasising drone, AI, and robotics learning.
Kumaran also encouraged the Tamil schools to actively utilise the programmes conducted by the Penang Science Cluster and to benefit from them.
Speaking about the distribution of chairs and tables to schools, Kumaran said that Penang has nearly 5,000 Tamil school students. He added that under this programme, tables and chairs will be replaced for half of the students this year, and the remaining half will be replaced next year.
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter