Help is here: Chong (fourth left) accompanied by Penang Education director Shaari Osman (third left) and Tan (fifth left) holding up the mock cheques at SMJK Jit Sin in Bukit Mertajam.

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A total of RM4.5mil in allocations were given to 88 Government-aided SMJK and SJK (C) Chinese schools in Penang this year, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

“From 2012, the Government had allocated RM44.29mil to such schools.

“We hope the money is used to provide higher quality education and facilities in these schools,” he said after handing over the mock cheques to representatives of the schools in SMJK Jit Sin yesterday.

Chong also urged the state government to stop politicising the issue of Chinese education as it has never been neglected.

“Not only has the allocation increased, we also allowed more buildings and the relocation of such schools, and introduced Chinese subjects in national schools.

“By targeting more non-Chinese to enrol in Chinese schools, we hope to have a multiracial studying environment," he said.

Also present were Penang Education director Shaari Osman, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng and Penang MCA organising chairman Tan Chuan Hong.

-The STAR-