KUANTAN: The Pahang Education Department has denied rumours circulating over social media that the SJK (Tamil) Bukit Fraser located in Raub will be closed down at the end of this year due to lack of pupils.
State Education director Dr Tajuddin Mohd Yunus said there were no instructions for the premises to be closed for the 2019 school term. The school will operate as usual.
“There is no such announcement and lessons will be conducted at the premises like normal next year. The viral news is the action of irresponsible parties to spread rumours.
“I urge those spreading false news to stop doing so as people have been sharing the viral news over the social media and this can result in confusion, especially among parents,” he said when contacted today.
Tajuddin reminded parents and students not to be easily influenced by rumours spread on the social media and contact the district education department to verify matters related to schools or education.
On Oct 24, the social media was abuzz with rumours that SJKT Bukit Fraser will be closed In December and pleaded to the public to help find pupils below the age of 12 years old to be recruited as pupils in the school.
The message also claimed that accommodation, food and allowance will be also provided for the pupil.
The school located some 1,300 meters above sea level currently has three students and four teachers, including a headmaster.
Meanwhile, the school’s management board chairman L. Nalini described the viral news as untrue as the school had not received any letter saying that it will be closed or made promises to pay allowance for pupils.
She said the schools parent-teacher association and management board were in the midst of looking for pupils from the nearby areas to join the school next year.
“We are prepared to offer accommodation and meals for the pupils. In fact, we have a pupil joining Year One next year and one pupil who is now in Year Five will be sitting for her Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination next year,” she said.