HANNAH Yeoh today said the education minister should study why Chinese vernacular schools are becoming more popular among the non-Chinese.

In an interview with Sinar Harian, the Segambut lawmaker said the percentage of Indians and Malays enrolling in such schools has been increasing over the years.

“The Education Ministry must found out why this is happening,” she was quoted as saying.

Yeoh said during her schooling days, national-type schools was the main option, but times have changed, with Chinese vernacular schools now the preferred choice.

“Standards are dropping in national schools and the ministry should look into it.

“Instead of arguing on closing down vernacular schools, we should use it as an example and make national schools better,” she said.

Currently Malaysia has a total of 5,877 national, 1,302 (Chinese vernacular) and 527 (Tamil vernacular) schools.

Last month, Deputy Education Minister Mah Hang Soon said proficiency of the Malay language among students from vernacular schools nationwide has improved over the years.

“In general, the proficiency of the Malay language (among vernacular school students) has gotten so much better.”

However last week, he said a total of 3,017 primary schools in the country are categorised as under-enrolled, with fewer than 150 pupils each, currently.

Of the 3,017 primary schools, 2,034 are national, 616 (Chinese vernacular) and 367 (Tamil vernacular). – September 28, 2022.