MIC president S Samy Vellu today assured the Indian community that the government will not close down any Tamil school even if they are facing lower enrolment.

"Not a single Tamil school will be closed down. In fact, we (MIC) will ensure that all existing Tamil schools are redeveloped," he said.

Samy Vellu was commenting on the reported statement by Malaysian Tamil Council managing director S Sivasubramaniam that about 100 partially-aided Tamil schools would likely be closed as they had low enrolment.

The MIC chief chided those who claimed that Tamil schools with very low enrolment faced closure.

"There are solutions to the problem of low enrolment, but we must work out a reasonable one," he said.

Samy Vellu said the MIC was aware that there were Tamil schools which only had two or three students, but stressed that the schools would not be closed down.

He said the Indian community and related organisations should work with the MIC to come up with workable solutions, which included relocating the affected schools to areas where there were a sizeable number of Indians.

Samy Vellu said the government should not be blamed for not doing much for Tamil schools.

"The government is ready to assist in solving the problem. But we must give that solution first," he said.

He cited the special allocation for the redevelopment of Tamil schools under the two economic stimulus packages last year amounting to RM130 million and another for RM67 million in the 2010 Budget.

"Even the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has pledged that no Tamil school will be closed down," Samy Vellu said.

He said the MIC would ensure the continued progress of Tamil schools, "whether they are fully-aided or partially-aided".

- Bernama