From sixth left, Tham, Chin, Edward, Chong, Teo, Yong, Liew, Goh and other VIPs after a symbolic ground breaking ceremony.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has always been supportive of vernacular and mission schools, including Chinese independent schools, said Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang.
He said the State Government provided allocations to assist Chinese independent schools, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina), mission schools and et cetera.
“This is a commitment by the State Government to support education in Sabah so that our children can have better education and a more conducive learning environment,” Teo said in an interview after officiating at the ground breaking ceremony of Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School student hostel here yesterday.
Teo was representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.
STTSS is building a five-storey hostel that could accommodate 270 students in its campus at Damai. The present hostel can only accommodate up to 72 students.
The new RM6 million hostel is expected to be completed by mid 2015.
Teo said many students, especially outstation students, were willing to travel to Kota Kinabalu in order to pursue higher standard of education.
However, outstation students frequently faced accommodation issues, he said.
“I am confident that more students will benefit from the new hostel.
“Parents will be willing to send their children outstation to study without worrying about their safety as they are staying in school.”
Teo added that STTSS, one of the nine Chinese independent schools in Sabah, has produced many outstanding human capital in Sabah and Malaysia.
When asked if the government would consider providing assistance in view of Chinese independent schools’ teachers getting lower salaries compared to that of government schools, he said the State Government would consider the needs of all parties subject to the budget.
Also present at the event were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Sabah Dong Zong chairman Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt, Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Dato’ Sri T.C. Goh, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui, Kinabalu Foundation chairman Datuk Chin Chee Kee, United Sabah and F.T. of Labuan Hakka Association president Datuk Jimmy Tham Yuk Leong, former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, chairman of the board of governors of STTSS Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming, Datuk James Hwong, Datuk Chau Tet On, Datuk Nancy Ho, organizing chairman Chong Kee Fong and school principal Hiew Hoh Shin.