BUTTERWORTH – SK Assumption in Bagan Dalam will cease operations from February 28 despite what a school official said yesterday.
The Education Ministry has made the decision to close down the school as the private landowner is seeking the return of the land as soon as possible.
This comes as schools nationwide prepare to resume their third term tomorrow and Monday.
This was confirmed by Parent-Teachers Association chairman Mohd Aminuddin Baqy Mohd Noor, who attended a meeting with Education Department deputy director Abdul Said Hussain, the school’s board of governors and the SK Assumption Alumni Association.
He told The Vibes that the deputy director told them that the ministry had no choice but to vacate the school as the land belongs to a private owner and he is demanding for it to be returned as soon as possible.
“But we have asked the department to give us an extension while the alumni association writes to the landowner to ask for more time in order to look for a suitable location for the school.
“We hope the landowner will agree as there are a lot of sentiments when it comes to closing an 88-year-old school. This also comes amid preparation for its 90th anniversary.”
Aminuddin said the deputy director asked the PTA and the board of governors to make arrangements to transfer the students to nearby schools.
Alumni association president Vermon Christopher Fernandez said the state and the Seberang Prai Utara district office have been asked to ensure a smooth transition for the students.
He added that the school administration has been told to cease operations on February 28.
“We had also discussed the possibility of deferment of the closure, taking into account student welfare.”
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and state Education, Human Capital Development, Science and Technology Committee chairman P. Ramasamy said school is not a roadside food stall to be simply removed as it has a long history and commitment to the local community.
“It is the duty and responsibility of the federal government and the Education Ministry to secure the school in view of its history. Why can’t the ministry find a piece of land to relocate the school, instead of closing down the school?
“Anyway, we have arranged for a meeting next week and I will talk to the stakeholders.”
Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees said he personally does not agree with the decision to close down the school.
“It is improper for the department to simply inform the school to close down. If the landowner wanted back the land, he should have initiated a notice and submitted some documents.
“There’s no evidence to show that the landowner had asked for the return of the land.”
SK Assumption, a missionary school originally in Jalan Assumption, was relocated several hundred metres away when the Penang Catholic Diocese sold the land to a private developer some 15 years ago. – The Vibes, January 8, 2022.
