How can the government ensure fair SJKC funding and land allocation?

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The government can ensure fair SJKC funding and land allocation by treating SJKCs like national schools in both federal funding and reserved land, alongside transparent relocation and long-term planning

The United Chinese School Teachers’ Association of Malaysia (UCSTAM), also known as Jiao Zong, urged Putrajaya to allocate federal funds and land for new Chinese primary schools (SJKCs) on the same basis as national primary and secondary schools. It called for abolishing the requirement that land reserved for schools can only be used for national schools, and for stopping discrimination against SJKCs in fund and land allocations. Jiao Zong also argued that relocation processes should be transparent so smaller schools know how they can initiate relocation.
Allocate federal funds and reserved land without the national-only restriction
Jiao Zong specifically asked for the “unreasonable requirement” to be abolished, referring to the rule that reserved land for schools can only be used for building new national primary and national secondary schools. It also demanded equal treatment for SJKCs, including favouring them equally with national schools in fund and land allocations. The group framed this as a way to remove barriers created when approvals for building or relocating SJKCs were made “arduous” under the previous Barisan Nasional government.
Use transparent relocation and a structured planning process involving school stakeholders
Jiao Zong called for transparency in how schools are relocated, so smaller SJKCs can understand how to initiate relocation rather than being left without clear pathways. It also urged the Ministry of Education to convene meetings and invite Jiao Zong, Dong Zong, related SJKC boards, and parent-teacher associations to jointly study and replan how SJKCs are distributed and developed. The stated aim was to align SJKC development with “society’s needs” through coordinated planning.
Address the rural-urban mismatch with long-term distribution planning
The report highlighted a mismatch between where SJKCs are located and where students live: 796 of 1,298 SJKCs (61.3%) are in rural areas, while 70% of students are in urban centres. It added that student populations vary widely, from fewer than 10 students to over 3,000, and said rural SJKCs face vulnerability to closure when student numbers dwindle. Jiao Zong pointed to an imbalance in demand and access, noting that some SJKCs struggle to fill classrooms while others turn prospective students away.
Build a clearer mechanism for micro-school relocation and new SJKC sites
Jiao Zong said the ethnic Chinese community preserved 40 micro-schools since 2000 by relocating them to areas with denser ethnic Chinese populations, and noted that the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 listed micro-school relocation as a proposed solution. However, it said the Education Ministry has not established a mechanism for those wishing to relocate micro-schools. On the “10+6” plan, Jiao Zong said the new government has moved one SJKC from Johor to Penang but has not announced the exact locations of the remaining eight, and it argued that RM20 million announced for building and relocating SJKCs is insufficient for the “10+6” scope. It also called for directly approving new SJKCs in urgent areas such as Batu Kawan, and listed places including Selangor (Puchong Utama, Bandar Bukit Puchong, Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Kota Kemuning, Setia Alam, Bukit Tinggi), Kuala Lumpur (Kepong and Bukit Jalil), and Penang (Batu Kawan, Bukit Mertajam, Nibong Tebal).

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How can the government ensure fair SJKC funding and land allocation?

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