Education Ministry committed to streamlining school construction approvals, especially aided schools, says deputy minister

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the ministry would help resolve issues related to documentation and administrative procedures once matters concerning sites and school enrolment needs had been settled. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 14 Nov 2026 3:15 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 14 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) is committed to streamlining approval for school construction, particularly for government-aided schools, so that education infrastructure projects can be carried out more smoothly.

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the ministry would help resolve issues related to documentation and administrative procedures once matters concerning sites and school enrolment needs had been settled.

“Over the past four years, under the Madani Government, we have worked to streamline all processes.

“If the new site has demand in terms of enrolment and the site-related issues have been resolved, then there is no issue for us to grant approval,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Heng Ee building in Bayan Lepas here today.

Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin and Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying.

Citing the SJKC Heng Ee project as an example, Wong said MOE approved the school’s relocation in June 2025 after meeting representatives of its School Management Board in August 2024.

He said the move stemmed from increasingly unconducive conditions at the original school, as well as declining enrolment, with only about 130 pupils. 

The new 18-classroom SJKC Heng Ee building is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028, with operations targeted to begin in September that year, he said.

He said the new school can accommodate between 540 and 630 pupils, depending on the number of pupils per class.

“However, MOE has no objection if the school wishes to submit applications for the second and third phases should there be an encouraging response after it begins operations,” he said.

He added that a two-session school day to meet the needs of the area could also be considered if enrolment rises above 1,000 pupils. — Bernama