KUALA LUMPUR — The government’s RM50 million allocation for Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT) has been welcomed, but stakeholders say the funding must be paired with targeted reforms to deliver lasting improvements.
Former Educational Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF) president and veteran educator K. Nadarajah said the allocation should prioritise schools that are ready for relocation or expansion, particularly those that have secured land and obtained approval from the Ministry of Education.
“By focusing on relocation and the construction of additional classroom blocks, the allocation can directly improve learning environments and ensure compliance with minimum educational standards,” he told Scoop.
Nadarajah also called for a nationwide feasibility and needs assessment to ensure the funds are channelled to schools where they are most urgently needed.
He cautioned that financial assistance alone would not resolve the structural challenges faced by many SJKT, describing one-off funding as only temporary relief.
“One of the key issues is student enrolment, which cannot be solved solely by upgrading facilities,” he said, noting that many Tamil schools are located in rural or former estate areas where Indian population density has declined significantly.
“In such cases, even well-equipped schools may continue to face low enrolment,” he added.
As a result, many Indian parents choose national schools or Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC), which are often located closer to their homes. Nadarajah said relocating rural SJKT could help address this issue.
He also emphasised the importance of rebuilding parents’ confidence in SJKT, despite many Tamil schools continuing to perform well and produce high-quality students.
“The government can support Tamil schools by improving access, strengthening early childhood education linkages, enhancing co-curricular and enrichment programmes, and carrying out community outreach to restore confidence in the quality and relevance of Tamil education,” he said.
Bersatu associate wing vice-chief Sri Sanjeevan Ramakrishnan echoed the call, saying the government must go beyond financial aid.
“Beyond funding, the government must reform policies, strengthen bilingual and trilingual education, resolve land issues and actively rebuild public confidence,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the RM50 million allocation on Monday, prioritising SJKT with poor facilities. He said that although Tamil schools are fewer in number compared with national schools and SJKC, several are in urgent need of infrastructure upgrades.— January 6, 2026