KUALA LUMPUR: Almost a year after completion, there is still no indication when the Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Art School (SSeMKL) located at Jalan Seladang will be open to students.
For the past five years, its students have been studying and using the facilities at SMK Shah Alam in Bukit Jelutong.
This has caused anxiety among parents as their children have been forced to study under very uncomfortable conditions as the facilities at SMK Shah Alam do not meet the criteria of an art school.
According to SSeMKL's Parents and Teachers Association chairman Muhamad Fauzi Mohamed, the issue has persisted for five years and the management of the Co-Curriculum and Arts (BKK) Division of the Ministry of Education had pledged many times to come up with a solution.
"We could accept it when Year One and Two students studied in another school because the school building was under construction. But now, the new SSeMKL building is ready but they are not able to move in. We cannot go on waiting and be patient anymore.
"The previous Education Minister had promised that all students will be relocated in August 2017. Later it was postponed to April, but until now there has been no progress. Now, under the new Government, a new Education Minister has been appointed, Dr Maszlee Malik.
"We were not told what exactly is the problem with the building. It is said there are water and electric supply issues, and also something to do with the canteen tender. Anyway when we visited the school, there was water and electricity," he said.
Fauzi was met with some parents at the school's new building today who expressed their dissatisfaction and worry about the 235 students who are still sharing out facilities in SMK Shah Alam.
Fauzi stressed that the learning environment and daily life of students living in SMK Shah Alam hostels were very poor, despite the ministry having spent a lot of money in establishing art schools.
"Our children are still unable to enjoy the full range of facilities at the new school. Their learning environment is not conducive because studying in a regular day school is different from an art school.
"Riding on a regular school for five years is something that should not be happening. Actually, many students have moved to regular schools or art schools located in other states such as Johor and Perak.
"Their talents and creativity will not flourish because the art and academic facilities are absent. If technical problems become the main constraint for the transfer, BKK officials must address it promptly and thoroughly, "he said.
Fauzi added that the PTA hoped the new Education Minister would be able to resolve the matter.
"As parents, we are very concerned about the children, especially those who are sitting for the SPM examination at the end of the year. We plan to meet up with the education minister to speed up the transfer process, "he said.
SSeMKL is the third art school opened after Sekolah Seni Malaysia Sarawak and Sekolah Seni Malaysia Johor. In 2016, the Education Ministry added two more schools under the Arts Education Programme, namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Muhibbah in Perak and SMK Elopura, Sabah.
SSeMKL was established in 2014 and now shares facilities at SMK Shah Alam, Bukit Jelutong, Selangor.
Using the concept of a school that develops the arts potential and talent of students, the establishment envisions of becoming the centrepiece of cultural and art education excellence to create world-class experts in culture.