PETALING JAYA - Chinese independent secondary schools in the Klang Valley are bursting at the seams due to the ever-increasing demand and the limited places available.
As a result, an estimated 2,800 Year 6 school-leavers who have applied for admission to the eight Chinese independent schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor face rejection, China Press reported yesterday.
Due to strong demand, four Chinese schools in Kuala Lumpur – Confucian Private Secondary School, Tsun Jin High School, Chong Hwa Independent High School and Kuen Cheng High School – have implemented entrance examinations to pick the brightest applicants.
By the end of last month, Kuen Cheng, which has 800 new places, has already received 1,681 applications; Chung Hwa, with 1,000 places, has received 1,500 applications; Tsun Jin (530 places) has received 900 applications; and Confucian has 530 applicants vying for its 400 places.
In Klang, Selangor, Hin Hua High School has received 1,200 applications for its 500 places.
The other three schools in the district – Guan Hwa High School, Chung Hua Independent High School and Pin Hua High Shool – have received a total of 1,150 for 1,115 places available.
Hin Hua and Chung Hua will pick the best students based on their UPSR examination results.
A number of Chinese independent school headmasters told the daily that they have no choice but to reject the hundreds of excess applicants due to the limited number of places.
They attributed the trend of Chinese parents sending their children to Chinese independent schools to the high regard the Chinese community has for Chinese education and the improved prospects for students from these schools to pursue tertiary education both in the country and abroad.
They are expecting a lot more students to enrol in Chinese independent schools after the UPSR results are released.
The Sundaily