Malaysia

CBN land lease row: stop marginalising schools, Rafidah tells govt

High-profile alumna says equal treatment needed so standard of education can be improved

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 21 Apr 2021 7:00AM

CBN land lease row: stop marginalising schools, Rafidah tells govt
In 1961, the Conference of Rulers had granted SMK Convent Bukit Nanas a state lease, which will expire on September 6 this year. – SMK Convent Bukit Nanas Facebook pic, April 21, 2021

by Dharshini Ganeson

KUALA LUMPUR – The government has been told to stop selectively rendering aid to schools based on their types, following the recent controversy over the non-extension of SMK Convent Bukit Nanas’ (CBN) land lease.

Former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said equal attention must be given to all schools, including mission and vernacular ones.

None should be marginalised at the expense of national-type schools, which are officially fully aided, she added.

“We cannot have ‘aided’ and ‘unaided’ schools as they are all educating our children.

“If we are to be a united Malaysian society, the entire education infrastructure – including soft and physical infrastructure – must be rationalised.”

She said this in response to an announcement by the Federal Territories (FT) Land and Mines Office that the land in which CBN sits will revert to the government so it can be gazetted as a fully aided government school.

FT Land and Mines Office director Datuk Muhammad Yasir Yahya reportedly said the government’s decision to not renew the lease is to ensure it becomes a fully aided government school.

The move will enable it to receive all the benefits it needs for the future, he claimed.

Rafidah, a CBN alumna who was a federal minister for 28 years, told The Vibes that the government should not differentiate schools.

She said by assisting all schools, the standard of education can be improved.

Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz says a wider vision not blinkered by politics is needed to educate Malaysian youth. – Bernama TV pic, April 21, 2021
Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz says a wider vision not blinkered by politics is needed to educate Malaysian youth. – Bernama TV pic, April 21, 2021

There is also a need for long-term planning to face and meet the new demands of the marketplace for new skills sets and relevant curricula, she added.

“Teacher training can be streamlined to meet the demands of all schools.”

Established in 1899, CBN is an all-girls school situated along Jalan Bukit Nanas here.

In 1961, the Conference of Rulers had granted the school a state lease, which will expire on September 6 this year.

On Monday, CBN was given more time to challenge the government’s decision to not extend the lease when high court judge Datuk Noorin Badarin granted the school’s review application for leave and permission to file a judicial review.

Rafidah is among a host of influential Malaysian women who have voiced out against the non-renewal of the lease.

She said the nation and society stand to lose out as a result of the selective treatment.

“We can reform the curricula in line with new global imperatives and apply them to each school to trigger creativity, innovative thinking, and have a more rounded education for each generation of children that is continuously adapted and applied in every school.”

She had learnt French while at CBN, and continued her studies at University of Malaya, where she took French as her final year degree subject, while her friends learnt Latin and pursued relevant studies later.

“We can do the same in all schools – to offer English, Mandarin, Japanese etc.”

A wider vision not blinkered by politics is needed to educate Malaysian youth, she added. – The Vibes, April 21, 2021

Additional reporting by A. Azim Idris

Related News

Events / 1d

UK alumni lauded for stellar achievements as British Council observes 75 years in Malaysia

Malaysia / 2d

Govt to continue focus on Stem training to boost foreign investment: PM

Opinion / 1w

Singapore's race to self-sufficiency amid Malaysian water tensions – TamilSalvi Mari

Sports & Fitness / 1w

Asian Cup qualifiers: Malaysia suffer first defeat in Group D after losing 0-2 to Oman

Malaysia / 1w

Veil of haze surrounds Miri as wildfires spread near Brunei border

Business / 1w

Malaysia secures RM46 billion potential investments from trade and investment mission to Germany, France

Spotlight

Events

UK alumni lauded for stellar achievements as British Council observes 75 years in Malaysia

Malaysia

Don’t let politicians, activists stir up hatred against KK Mart, PBK tells cops

By The Vibes Team

Malaysia

7.7 mil people registered in Padu, 2.5 mil cyberattacks, but not one success: Rafizi

By Stephen Then

Malaysia

Farewell Aunty Bersih, you will be missed

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Couple make two trips to workshop to find trapped kitten in car

Malaysia

KK Mart founder, director charged with wounding religious feelings of others over 'Allah' socks

By The Vibes Team

You may be interested

Malaysia

Anwar receives courtesy call from Indian External Affairs Minister

Malaysia

DOSM opens 300 extra counters as Padu registration deadline approaches

Malaysia

Penang’s iconic Komtar set to undergo major make-over

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Sabah polls: We will let BN leadership decide on partners, says Bung

By Jason Santos

Malaysia

Review of taxation structure, SARA among focus of parliament today

Malaysia

Water bombing carried out to douse massive Sarawak forest fires

By Stephen Then

Malaysia

Speed limit at George Town World Heritage Site reduced to 40 km/h

By Shahrim Tamrin

Malaysia

MCA Youth latest to condemn petrol bomb attack at KK Mart outlet

By The Vibes Team