Penang govt lauds plan to preserve Convent schools

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government welcomes the plan by the Sisters of the Infant Jesus (SIJ) Malaysia to preserve the character and ethos of the convent schools in the state.
In a statement, Penang chef minister Chow Kon Yeow said he had met with the nine representatives of the SIJ yesterday, who had updated him on the status of the schools.
“It was a fruitful one-hour meeting at Komtar where the state government obtained a clearer picture of the what is happening.
We are happy to note that SIJ has no intention to sell the land and buildings of the Convent schools for redevelopment,” he said.
Chow said the state was told that SIJ was looking into the possibility of providing education that is in line with the ethos of the Convent schools.
However, Chow said the state government had also taken note that ISJ had requested for the Convent schools’ premises, which were taken over by the Education Ministry in 1972 to be used as federal-assisted schools, to be returned to them.
He said the application process started in September 2016 and their request had since been approved by the ministry late last year.
The schools’ were represented by the The Lady Superior of Saint Maur Sr Mary Theresa Chua.
Also present in the meeting was Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy.
An English daily reported last month that the Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Light Street, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Convent Light Street and SMK Convent Pulau Tikus, would be closed down by 2024 and the land will be returned to its owner, SIJ.
The report also stated that the Education Ministry has heeded a request from the landowner to return the land and had stopped the intake of new students in the three schools since last year.
By G Vinod