SHAH ALAM: Kota Kemuning residents can now heave a sigh of relief as the long-awaited SMK Kemuning 2 is expected to open its doors for registration in 2020.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the project was first announced in 2013 under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme to accommodate the growing number of students in the township.
“It is an important day today as SMK Kota Kemuning 2 will finally be built after a thorough and successful negotiation process with the various parties involved.
“I hope the new school, expected to be completed by the end of next year, will provide the necessary education facilities and overcome the issue of overcrowding at SMK Kota Kemuning 1 (the only secondary school in the area that was designed to accommodate about 2,000 students, but now has over 3,000).
“Townships that see economic development will see the need to have new schools. Putrajaya and Kapar are among the places that have filed requests to build schools due to the growing number of students,” he said at the school’s groundbreaking ceremony at Kota Kemuning today, adding that this would be the first school to be built via Public Private Partnership under his leadership.
Besides that, he said plans to build six other primary and secondary schools under PPP are in the midst of negotiation with the relevant parties, including the Public Private Partnership Unit.
“We hope to finalise the approval to build the six schools in the Klang Valley by end of the year.”
SMK Kota Kemuning 2 will be built in partnership with Segi International Group Sdn Bhd on an eight acre piece of land (located next to SJK(C) Chung Hwa Kota Kemuning). The RM42 million (excluding GST) school will have four blocks with 36 classrooms, science labs, assembly area and sports facilities.
Mahdzir also hopes developers would consider including at least three or five 21st century classrooms in schools built under the PPP, in line with the government’s plan to expand digital learning to all schools nationwide in five years.
He also said there were various methods to build schools, such as via government funding (from annual budget allocation), donations, and funding from Parent Teacher Associations and alumni.
“Chinese vernacular schools often obtain donations from non-governmental organisations, PTAs or alumni that allow them to build new school blocks. This initiative can be emulated by all schools.”
Mahdzir said Segi would also develop an Early Childhood and Childcare Education (ECCE) hub in Sungai Buloh that will be used as a platform to educate young ones interested in ECCE and develop their skills.
“Proper education at early childhood is crucial to develop a well-informed and knowledgable society. The ministry has agreed that by 2020, teachers teaching Early childhood education (ECE) should have at least a diploma in ECE.”
The event also hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for Petaling Utama district eduction office in Kota Damansara that will cost about RM10million (excluding GST).