Over-Capacity at Independent Chinese Schools – Association of Chinese Education Welcomes the New Year
In 2013, a rousing news was circulating amongst those concerned about the Malaysian Chinese education: Chinese Independent Schools in various states of Peninsular Malaysia were over-enrolled, and it’s the highest ever recorded since the 1970s’ “Revival movement of Chinese Independent Schools”. It’s a real joy to see the increased interest and enrolments, but on the flip side we are also saddened that many young aspiring learners have to be turned away. In hindsight, if only the Kuantan Chinese School could be completed and opened in time, more students could be accepted and disappointments avoided.
Looking back, Independent Chinese Schools were once the second choice for enrolments. When the Association of Chinese Education were worried about the lack of enrolments and started a revival movement, it was really to rescue the Schools. But today, why is it the number one choice of many parents?
Looks like it was the success of the revival movement along with other favourable reasons that drove the Chinese Independent Schools to now become the preferred choice. As the number of student enrolments increases, Chinese Independent Schools in Klang Valley area are also running at capacity enrolments. Even for Northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, where the preference is usually to enrol students in government schools, there is a shift in preference.
Parents residing in Klang Valley and the outer regions have long sought to enrol their children in Chinese Independent Schools, and many would count their blessings to be given placements. The situation in Penang and Kedah are no different, increasing enrolments with very limited capacity.
The Chairman of the Board of Han Chiang High School said, there were over 300 new students, and as this number already exceeds their current capacity, they have had to review the applications based on the students’ results.
The Principal of Chung Ling High School had earlier announced that due to an over-capacity, they have had to stop receiving enrolment applications. Currently, they have already accepted 224 new students, which has already exceeded their initial allocation by 20 students.
The Principal of Penang Chinese High School also highlighted, 2013 will be the same as previous years where they will have additional classes for the new students. They have exceeded their current capacity by 60 news student, and this is an increase of 40 additional placements compared to last year.
There are many reasons for the over-capacity at our Independent Chinese Schools, one of them being an increase of new born in the auspicious year of the dragon, resulting in more graduates; another is the increasing confidence and shift in perception of parents towards Chinese Independent Schools.
Recognition of Examination Certificate of Chinese Independent Schools
The examination certificate issued by Chinese Independent schools is gaining wider recognition and acceptance from countries like Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Even local private colleges and universities are recognising them. Wider recognition also means more opportunities and another reason for parents to enrol their children in Chinese Independent schools.
In addition, Malaysia has also recognised the degrees of 800 universities. The best students looking to further their studies in China or Taiwan can participate in teacher training programmes and apply for scholarships from department of higher education. Discipline is also another reason Chinese Independent schools are the preferred choice for parents.
Dong Zong pointed out that over-capacity at Chinese Independent schools is nothing new. However, since the revival movement, this is the first time we have recorded such a big increase in new enrolments, and we should celebrate to such news.
As we rejoice, we are at the same time worried. The vice-president of Dong Zong during a press conference said, “Unless we build and establish new schools, based on the current capacity and expanding classes, the schools can only handle a yearly increase of 3,000 new students.”
We have already enrolled and registered a total of 73,000 students in this new year, up from 70,266 last year.
Dong Zong vice-president said, with well-rounded facilities and improved performance by the students, parents’ confidence in the schools would also increase.
Revival Movement of The Chinese Independent Schools
In the 60s and 70s, after undergoing a massive restructuring, efforts in building Chinese Independent Schools underwent a period of slum. It was facing many challenges and difficulty in expanding and even surviving. When the government removed the examination for entrance from primary to secondary schools, there was a huge drop in new enrolments. The schools were also seen as tuition centres, whose students generally don’t do very well in classes. Those were challenging times.
Facing the grim circumstances, and the need of the Chinese community to preserve the education of the Chinese mother tongue, in 1973, a group of individuals from Perak started the revival movement. They amalgamated all the 60 independent Chinese schools, and eventually rescued and established the schools on firmer grounds. Dong Zong then established the Association of Chinese Education that looks into growth and needs of the schools. They also put in motion a guideline and started a foundation to fund the future expansion and growth of the schools.
After 30 years of building and championing the rights of Chinese Independent schools, the working committee of the Chinese independent schools have been working at promoting and helping the school progress in the area of examination, teachers training, technical and vocational education, student activities, career counselling, publishing, compilation of information, fund raising, and scholarships, amongst others. The Chinese Independent schools has come of age, and is recognised by many universities and colleges the world over.
独中爆满，华教欣喜迎新年
2013年，马来西亚华教界获得一项令人振奋的消息：西马各州的华文独中学额全线爆满，这是70年代“独中复兴运动”以来的最佳表现；但在喜悦的同时，我们又为那些因额满被“割爱”的学子感到痛惜。心想，如果关丹中华中学能及时开课，就可以容纳更多新生，不必出现有人望门兴叹的现象。
华文独中当年曾被忽视，华教界担心没有学生，所以，胡万铎发起和领导上述复兴运动，也可说是救亡运动。今天，为什么独中会“飞上枝头”，变成大受欢迎、家长们抢着要把孩子送进去的首选学府呢？
看来，办学成功，加上多项利好的因素，造就独中越来越受重视，学生愈来愈多，吉隆坡一带的独中近年来已经出现额满，现在，连传统上属国民型中学强区的北马也掀起这股热潮，明年度新生显著增加及爆满见遗。
雪隆一带，就是巴生谷的独中，特别是吉隆坡的几间，早已成为“枪手货”，大家都知道了。今年，能为你的孩子找到一个独中的学位就算幸运了。在槟城，除了唯一无国民型中学的韩江独中新生继续超额，其他4所与改制中学并存的独中当中，日新独中及钟灵独中因教室有限，已迫得淘汰数百名报名学生。另外，菩提及槟华独中新生也大幅增加。在吉打，吉华独中及新民独中新生，也都宣告爆满。
韩江中学董事长拿督黄赐兴表示，该校共有超过300名新生，由于报读人数已超出预定的数额，必须以班数及学生成绩作为考量，目前还在审查中。
钟灵独中校长吴维城较早前宣布，明年入读的新生已爆满，校方已停止收生。目前，该校已录取224名新生，比原定的204个学额多出20人。
槟华独中校长廖静仪说，报读的新生共有102名，初中一班也从去年的两班增加至4班。由于校方在之前已做了许多准备，应付新学年的师资方面不是问题。
菩提独中校长王增文声称，2013年将会跟往年一样，开设两班初中一，目前新生报读人数已超过60人，相比于去年约40名新生更多。
造成全国各地大部分独中新生爆满的原因很多，其中，龙年出生的华小毕业生人数特多是个理由，此外，家长对独中的心态已改变。
统考文凭受认同
其他有利因素包括统考文凭受广泛认同，如新加坡、澳洲、纽西兰都承认，国内私立与半官方大专也加以认同，因岀路好，家长都把孩子送进独中。
此外，大马已承认中国逾800所大学的学位，中台首选独中生，统考成绩优异者也可参加师训及申请高等教育基金，加上独中管教良好，都是造成家长对独中趋之若鹜的原因。
董总指出，雪隆有8间独中，柔佛和霹雳有十多间，以及全国其他地区的大部分独中，明年度新生都与往年一样超额爆满，北马区独中更是独中复兴运动以来，第一次有这么多新生报读，“情况非常令人鼓舞”。
但在欣喜之余，也有忧心。董总署理主席邹寿汉对报界说，除非增建或复办独中，否则单靠现有独中不断扩建教室，独中每年最多只能增收约3000名新生，不可能大幅增加。
明年至7万名
他预料明年度的独中生人数，将从现有的7万266名增至约7万3000名。
董总副主席许海明认为，独中软硬体设备都好，学生表现也在很大程度上提升，家长们对独中的信心自然就跟着提升。
谈说到巴生谷以外的独中，森美兰州有两所，芙蓉中华与波德申中华明年新生都爆满，共接纳了750名初一新生。
芙中原定要录取450人，可是因报读人数剧增，在通过校务会议后决定增加录取583人，比预定学额增加133人，共开设10班，平均每班54人；其实最佳的一班学生人数应在30人以下。波中虽然保持160余名新生人数，但后期仍陆续有越来越多学生欲申请报读，估计两校共有逾200名学生遭拒于门外，这是华教的损失。
独中复兴运动
在60-70年代，经历一场威迫利诱和软硬兼施的改制风暴后，华文独中的办学陷入低潮，其生存与发展面临重大危机。在政府废除小学升中学考试后，华文独中面对严重的学生来源短缺问题，更被视为收留落第生和“破铜烂铁”的补习学校，独中整体士气低落，惨淡经营。
面对极其恶劣的客观环境，华人社会为了挽救民族母语教育，胡万铎一批人士于1973年在霹雳州发动一场席卷全国的华文独中复兴运动，把全国仅存的60所华文独中从灭亡边缘救活和发展起来。董教总于当年成立董教总全国发展华文独立中学工作委员会，并发动筹募全国独中发展基金及提出《独中建议书》作为独中今后发展的方向指导。
经过30多年的奋斗和建设，独中工委会在推动独中办学的历程中，无论在课本编纂、举办考试、师资培训、技职教育、学生活动、升学辅导、出版业务、资讯收集、基金筹募、奖贷学金等方面均作出重大贡献。目前，华文独中的办学已达一定的学术水平，其统考文凭受世界许多大专承认。
