Dsara school now in containers
Zakiah Koya and Ng Boon HooiPublished: Mar 8, 2001 3:11 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
School is in session - in containers - on the grounds of a Chinese temple. For children of the controversy-engulfed SJK (C) Damansara, today is the first day they are studying in these air-conditioned containers, which they consider heaven-sent.
School is in session - in containers - on the grounds of a Chinese temple. For children of the controversy-engulfed SJK (C) Damansara, today is the first day they are studying in these air-conditioned containers, which they consider heaven-sent.
The children have been studying in makeshift classes, separated by plastic sheets and surrounded by 'Save Our School' banners, on the temple grounds for the past two months ever since the authorities decided to seal off the 70-year-old SJK (C) Damansara at the Damansara New Village.
Sources say that the Chinese education movement, Dong Jiao Zhong, donated the containers, fully furnished with chairs and desks, for the students' benefit last week.
Early this year, students from the school were directed by the Education Ministry to temporarily transfer to SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) - a few kilometres away - while awaiting the completion of a new school in Tropicana. The majority of the students have since moved to Puay Chai (II) but 67 have stayed put, and continued their classes at the neighbourhood temple.
The children, all hailing from the Damansara New Village itself, have become very confident and if asked about the issue, are capable of giving a speech on the reasons why they are still attending school on the temple grounds.
This is because the children do not spend only their school hours at the temple and around the old school. Even during weekends, there are many programmes held on the temple grounds. During these events, speeches are given by personalities and community leaders calling on the authorities to listen to the plea of the villagers to re-open the old school.
Volunteer teachers
Lee Hui Qian and 66 other children who have refused to move to Puay Chai (II) until the new school in Tropicana is completed, understand what the fuss is all about.
"It has to do with the relocation," says nine-year-old Lee, very confidently, while her bespectacled friend Chiew Kim Lai shakes her head in agreement.
Lee says that she loves studying in the new containers as it has air-conditioning, a feature which even the old school did not have.
"I love this school (the temporary one on the temple grounds) better than the old one," says Lee, pointing to the much fought-for school across the temple.
Chiew adds shyly that the volunteer teachers are also "very nice".
"They (the volunteer teachers) are less strict," said Chiew.
A dozen volunteer teachers are teaching the children as all the government teachers have moved to Puay Chai (II) on orders of the Education Ministry.
Monsoon drain danger
Chin Hong Wei, though only eight years old, is fully aware of what happened to his old school. He had spent his first year there.
"Our school is closed, that is why we have to come to school in the temple," says Chin.
Chin said that he does not want to move to Puay Chai (II) as ordered by the authorities.
He then lists down the problems at Puay Chai (II), stating that he had visited Puay Chai (II) at Bandar Utama once.
Chin's classmate Wong Chee Foong says they do not want to move to another school as their homes are here.
"Puay Chai (II) (the new site) has another school and it is very noisy. We don't like to move into it," says Wong, as he digs in to eat his instant noodles snack.
"There is also a huge longkang (drain) in front of the school," says Wong.
"What happens if we fall in?" Chin asks with concern.
The parents of those who moved to Puay Chai (II) have highlighted the fact that the big monsoon drain alongside the side gate is not covered and poses a danger to the children. As the side gate to the school is right beside the main road, school buses prefer to drop and pick up the children at the side gate rather than at the main gate.
Weather factor
Wong, who admits that although the new containers have made the environment more conducive for studying, says that the original school was cooler and that it was very warm at Puay Chai (II) due to the lack of trees.
"We love the teachers here, because the teachers do not give us a lot of homework," Chin interjected his friend's serious explanation of the weather at Puay Chai (II).
Chin said that he prefers the volunteer teachers as they only punish them with ketuk-ketampi (stand-ups) if they get zeros in their spelling.
"In the old school, the teachers used to cane us twice!" he said cheekily.
All in all, it is quite obvious that even if the parents were now to agree to transfer their children to Puay Chai (II) or any other Chinese school for that matter, the biggest opposition would be from the very children who have stayed put.
The children have been studying in makeshift classes, separated by plastic sheets and surrounded by 'Save Our School' banners, on the temple grounds for the past two months ever since the authorities decided to seal off the 70-year-old SJK (C) Damansara at the Damansara New Village.
Sources say that the Chinese education movement, Dong Jiao Zhong, donated the containers, fully furnished with chairs and desks, for the students' benefit last week.
Early this year, students from the school were directed by the Education Ministry to temporarily transfer to SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) - a few kilometres away - while awaiting the completion of a new school in Tropicana. The majority of the students have since moved to Puay Chai (II) but 67 have stayed put, and continued their classes at the neighbourhood temple.
The children, all hailing from the Damansara New Village itself, have become very confident and if asked about the issue, are capable of giving a speech on the reasons why they are still attending school on the temple grounds.
This is because the children do not spend only their school hours at the temple and around the old school. Even during weekends, there are many programmes held on the temple grounds. During these events, speeches are given by personalities and community leaders calling on the authorities to listen to the plea of the villagers to re-open the old school.
Volunteer teachers
"It has to do with the relocation," says nine-year-old Lee, very confidently, while her bespectacled friend Chiew Kim Lai shakes her head in agreement.
Lee says that she loves studying in the new containers as it has air-conditioning, a feature which even the old school did not have.
"I love this school (the temporary one on the temple grounds) better than the old one," says Lee, pointing to the much fought-for school across the temple.
Chiew adds shyly that the volunteer teachers are also "very nice".
"They (the volunteer teachers) are less strict," said Chiew.
A dozen volunteer teachers are teaching the children as all the government teachers have moved to Puay Chai (II) on orders of the Education Ministry.
Monsoon drain danger
Chin Hong Wei, though only eight years old, is fully aware of what happened to his old school. He had spent his first year there.
"Our school is closed, that is why we have to come to school in the temple," says Chin.
Chin said that he does not want to move to Puay Chai (II) as ordered by the authorities.
He then lists down the problems at Puay Chai (II), stating that he had visited Puay Chai (II) at Bandar Utama once.
"Puay Chai (II) (the new site) has another school and it is very noisy. We don't like to move into it," says Wong, as he digs in to eat his instant noodles snack.
"There is also a huge longkang (drain) in front of the school," says Wong.
"What happens if we fall in?" Chin asks with concern.
The parents of those who moved to Puay Chai (II) have highlighted the fact that the big monsoon drain alongside the side gate is not covered and poses a danger to the children. As the side gate to the school is right beside the main road, school buses prefer to drop and pick up the children at the side gate rather than at the main gate.
Weather factor
Wong, who admits that although the new containers have made the environment more conducive for studying, says that the original school was cooler and that it was very warm at Puay Chai (II) due to the lack of trees.
Chin said that he prefers the volunteer teachers as they only punish them with ketuk-ketampi (stand-ups) if they get zeros in their spelling.
"In the old school, the teachers used to cane us twice!" he said cheekily.
All in all, it is quite obvious that even if the parents were now to agree to transfer their children to Puay Chai (II) or any other Chinese school for that matter, the biggest opposition would be from the very children who have stayed put.
View Comments0