The Malayan Christian Schools’ Council (MCSC) Symposium, held at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur on 16 August 2008, was titled “Mission schools — Meeting the Needs of the Nation.”

The purpose of the symposium was to explore how the Boards of Governors, PTAs, Alumni, Heads of Schools and other stakeholders can work together and realise their commitment and responsibilities to meet the needs of the nation.

Attendees include School Principals and Guru Besars, members of School Board of Governors and Managers, Parent-Teacher Associations, School Alumni, School Administrators and Teachers, Educationists and those associated with Mission Scools and who are concerned for the Education of the young.

It was a platform for educators to gather to learn from each other on how to maintain the quality and prestige of mission schools and teachers; to explore how mission schools can exert a positive influence on society; to revisit the spirit of the founding missionaries of our mission schools.

In his speech, MCA Youth Secretary General and Deputy Education Minister YB Dr Ir Wee Ka Siong acknowledged the contributions of missions schools that were established by the Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian and Brethren churches in the last 150 years to the education landscape of Malaysia. Pointing out that 410 mission schools remain in the country, with 289 primary schools and 121 secondary schools, Ka Siong gave recognition to the Mission schools, “These schools, each with their different heritage, have contributed much to the building of an ethos that should rightly be reflected in all schools in Malaysia … started by Christian missionaries, (mission shools) strove to provide education for all the people in the country regardless of race, religion, creed and social class or gender.”

Bring education to women

He also paid tribute to the role that important role that missions played in educating women – an action considered uncommon in the late 1980s and early 20th century. “In many towns, mission schools broke barriers by offering education to young women. The history of these schools often record stories of how the founders went into homes to persuade parents that the education of women was a worthwhile cause, which ultimately would benefit society and the nation at large.”

MOE funding assured

Mission schools like Chinese and Tamil primary schools are partially funded. Therefore they do not receive full financial allocation from the government. It is not uncommon that most of the times, missions schools embark on fundraising activities to pay for maintenance and upkeep of the school’s aging building, utilities bill, tables and chairs, computers, construct new classes and others. To the console of the educators present at the symposium, Ka Siong gave the Education Ministry’s assurance that “all schools will be treated equally and will be eligible for grants that will ensure that schools are well maintained. The safety, security and well being of our students will have to be the paramount concern of the MOE.”

“Maximum consultation”

A concern by the boards of mission schools is over the choice of the principals for the schools and management of the schools. Addressing their concerns and their desire for opportunities to be open for Christian teachers to serve these schools, Ka Siong acknowledged that “some of these schools are being managed by head teachers who lack the sensitivity to build on existing traditions (and ethos).” He then emphasized that “MOE wants to assure all concerned that it is committed to uphold the principle of “maximum consultation”. We will also look for ways for Christian teachers to serve in mission schools.”

Renewing school leases

As many mission schools are generally constructed on leasehold land, there is the genuine fear that the school may no longer be in existence upon expiry of the lease. Mission schools have expressed the hope that the government would extend their leases at a nominal rate and quit rent be maintained at a nominal fee or RM 1 per annum. Ka Siong gave the assurance that  “The MOE undertakes to facilitate the renewal of leases and to maintain the quit rent at the nominal one ringgit per year.”

Continuing from primary to secondary school

Many pupils and parents from mission schools have a preference to continue their secondary school education in a mission school too. At the symposium, Ka Siong gave the assurances that “endeavour to ensure that children studying in primary mission schools will be given automatic entry to the secondary school. The MOE will ask state education departments to be co-operative in this matter.”

Full story and videos available at http://www.assuntaalumni.com/media/missionschools.html

~MCA online (26 August, 2008)