SRJK (C) Damansara may, after all, be retained if the school authorities can persuade all its students to return to the 70-year-old school, a statement from the ministry of education stated today.

A meeting between minister of education Musa Muhammad with the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and board of governors was held this afternoon to discuss whether the school should be retained for those students who have refused to transfer to the new SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2).

Musa said during the meeting the ministry would allow a time period of one week for the board of directors and PTA to persuade all the students to return to the old school.

The press statement, meanwhile, also stated that if all the students returned to the old school, then the new school to be built at Tropicana would no longer be deemed necessary.

Adviser to the action committee to preserve SRJK (C) Damansara, Ronnie Liu, when asked to comment on the statement, said that while they accepted the one-week period, the plan for the new school at Tropicana should not be canceled.

"This is due to the fact that there will be a need for a new school at Tropicana. The old school should be preserved as it was built and developed by the community. The plan to build a new school in Tropicana must continue," said Liu.

Temple classes

Before the start of today's meeting between Musa and the school's PTA and board of governors, representatives of the parents and students were told they would not be allowed to attend.

The representatives had hoped to change the mind of the education authorities who insist that all students move to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2), on the grounds that the new school is more conducive and has a more secure environment for schooling.

The 80-odd students who want to continue studying at the old school today attended classes conducted under makeshift camps in a temple compound nearby. The old school was sealed by police last Friday.

Two more volunteers - both Malay - today turned up to teach the students, joining eight other volunteers currently teaching there. The ministry has refused to post teachers to the school.

Yesterday, the students of SRJK (C) Damansara protested in front of the ministry, asking the minister to intervene and maintain the 70-year-old school at the Damansara New Village.

The ministry had reiterated that the move to transfer all students to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) was in line with a request from the school's board of directors and PTA.

A circular handed out to the press by Musa's press secretary Bakhari Ariff stated that as the majority had agreed to the transfer, there was no reason for the school to be maintained for a small number of students.

Monsoon drain danger

Parents at the New Damansara Village have said the reasons given for the move were unacceptable.

"They tell us that the nearby Sprint highway poses danger to students who are studying at SRJK (C) Damansara but the entrance is away from the highway. Furthermore, the only road beside the school is the slip-road,"said one parent.

"At the new Puay Chai (2), students are forced to use a single door gate and not the front gate. Buses leave the children beside the main road. The roads there are more dangerous as children waiting for buses after school would be playing alongside three-lane main roads.

"There are many cars and there are no pedestrian crossings for children," added the disgruntled parent, whose child is in Standard Four.

Another parent, a non-Chinese who had moved house from Klang to the Damansara New Village, said the SRJK (C) was convenient.

"My daughter is of very frail health and she gets sick easily. I have to pick her up and send her to school. SRJK (C) Damansara is convenient for parents like me. If we send her to Puay Chai (2), it will be too far for us," said the mother, preferring to be known only as Melina.

Another parent also expressed his concern over a large monsoon drain just outside Puay Chai(2). "I am worried about the monsoon drain. They have only placed desks to warn the children not to go near the monsoon drain. If it rains, it is very dangerous," said the parent, when met yesterday at the ministry.