CLOSURE - SRI INAI SCHOOL KUALA LUMPUR

Funny how one moment you tell everyone that you'll miss them over the holidays and can't wait for 2009 and the next, you find out that you probably won't be seeing any of these people ever again.

As you might have heard or read (in Sunday's Star), Sri Inai is officially closing down. For good. As in teachers out of their jobs and students in need of a new school. Sold to Arabs I hear. I honestly didn't expect this big of a change. Well, I knew that the school was having a hard time, financially. But I just expected a change of management, like in Beaconhouse Sri Inai. Not, change-CHANGE.

Taken from 'The Sunday Star articles'

School closure upsets many
By YUEN MEIKENG

meikeng@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 170 students from Sekolah Sri Inai here are in a lurch after the school gave notice of closure beginning Jan 1.

At least 12 teachers of the school located in Jalan Ulu Klang, Ampang, are also expected to be jobless.

It is learnt that school co-founder and executive chairman Datuk Alias Shamsuddin sent letters to parents two days ago informing them of the closure, citing poor student enrolment these past few years which had put the school in financial distress.

In the letter made available to The Star, Alias expressed regret, adding that the school administration would assist parents to enrol their children in other schools.

Many parents said the last-minute announcement was unfair. Several of them met with Alias at the school yesterday.

“Two of my sons will be sitting for the PMR and UPSR next year. The change in schools will affect them and may disrupt their studies,” vented Mohd Taufik Nordin, a 47-year-old businessman, in a phone interview.

An annoyed S.S. Maran, 38, said he was only given the letter after collecting his son’s report card.

“Even though the letter said the staff would help find replacement schools for the children, there is no assurance.

“Moreover, the transfer will take time and is subject to the Education Ministry’s approval,” he said.

A teacher, who declined to be named, expressed shock when she learnt of the school’s closure on Friday, saying she did not know where to find a job.

However, she was more concerned for the students because they might find it difficult adjusting in a new school.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the school had given the parents a rude shock, adding that it was duty bound to help enrol the students in new schools.

He said he would channel the parents’ complaints to the Private Education Division to investigate the matter.

Sekolah Sri Inai Kuala Lumpur, established in 1977, consisted of Sri Inai Senior, Sri Inai Junior and Tadika Inai.

Its Penang and Klang branches were sold off in 1983 while the schools in Petaling Jaya were taken over by new management in 2006.

p/s: buzee looking for another school for my sons...SAD MODE