The role of "good and quality" Chinese education should be given the attention and support it deserves by the government, especially with the importance of trade and investment between Malaysia and China.

Richard Wee Liang Chiat, vice-chairperson of the board of management for Kuching Chinese Middle Schools No 1,3 and 4, said there is a perception even among Chinese parents that so long as their children can receive primary education, it would suffice.

"But it's not enough just to promote primary Chinese education. You need at least secondary-level education to be conversant and intelligent enough (for diplomacy and trade)," he pointed out.

"When you are dealing with a mainland Chinese bureaucrat or businessman, would you be able to understand idioms and the intricacies or the sophistication of the Chinese language without making a fool of yourself?"

Wee said the government has recognised the importance of Mandarin, while trade and investment with China are growing in importance.

For these reasons, he suggested that the government gives grants to independent Chinese schools to ensure that "good and quality Chinese education is maintained".

He said state governments in Sabah and even Kelantan are giving grants to such schools as a tradition and because they recognise the importance of Chinese education.

Committed teachers

There are 60 independent Chinese schools in Malaysia - 40 in Peninsular Malaysia, 14 in Sarawak and six in Sabah.

They conduct their own examinations through the six years of secondary education, equivalent to Form Three and Form Six levels.

Certificates issued by Chinese independent schools are recognised by many colleges and universities abroad, including those in Australia, New Zealand and Britain.

In Kuching, the combined enrolment of the three Chung Hua Middle Schools is about 2000, the majority of them in Chung Hua Middle School No 1 in Pending. Ninety percent of the students are Chinese Malaysians.

According to Wee, it costs about RM5 million annually to run the three schools. School fees bring in about 80 percent of the operational costs, excluding the cost of maintenance, renovations and extensions.

The rest is raised through fund-raising activities and from donations from the Chinese community. The schools boards still do not receive government grants although the matter has been raised several times with the authorities.

The teachers are graduates, mainly from Taiwanese and Chinese universities, and although not paid on par with government teachers, "they are a committed lot who know the importance of Chinese education", added Wee.

Kuching's Chung Hua Middle No 1 is among the top 10 independent Chinese schools in Malaysia in academic performance.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.