Many of them felt that closing down the 89-year-old school, which had contributed so much to the people here, was a bad idea as the location was also convenient for the residents living in the area.
The former mission school has been told that it will be closed down on Feb 28 after the owner of the land, Sri Avenue Sdn Bhd, wanted the property back. But the state government, together with several groups, has stepped in to try and save the school.
The school was founded in 1933 by the La Salle Brothers, an order of the Catholic church, but the church relinquished all rights when the school was relocated in 2008.
Among those whom FMT met this morning was Ami Saufiah Ahmad Malkan, 36, mother of Standard 1 pupil Muhammad Ammar Haziq Muhmmad Hafiq. She hoped the school would be saved given its rich history and immense contribution to education in the country.
“I hope that the education ministry saves this school, if possible. Most parents were unhappy about the news of the closure when we met to discuss the matter recently.
“But if the decision to close down the school is final, then we can’t do anything,” she told FMT when met at the school this morning.
Ami Saufiah said her son was from the second generation of her family to study at SK Assumption as her elder brother, who is now in his 40s, was a former pupil.
For lorry driver Ravindran Sugumaran, 42, the school was “extra special” as he studied there from 1987 to 1993.
Now, his son, Kaarthigesan, 10, is a Standard 3 pupil and a school prefect.
“This is a good school that deserves to be saved. This matter needs to go viral so that the authorities can step in,” he said.
Che Su Tahar, 42, was saddened upon hearing the news, although rumours of its closure had been going around for some time.
“I hope that the school will not close down because it has produced some brilliant students.
“My son, who is in Standard 2, is doing well and I am worried that his academic achievement as well as his emotional well-being will be affected if he moves to a new school,” she said.
For Maziani Mahathir, 34, whose son is also in Standard 2, the news has left her in a state of “sadness and uncertainty”.
“The buildings are still in good condition and there is so much history. I hope the school stays since it’s been here for a very long time,” she said.
She hoped that the authorities would review their decision and let the school remain.
Penang government steps in
Meanwhile, the Penang government has decided to put in all its efforts to try and save the school.
Deputy chief minister P Ramasamy told FMT he had met with chief minister Chow Kon Yeow this morning to discuss the matter.
“I will be meeting with Penang education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad later today,” he said.
Ramasamy said he would try to get an explanation from the director on why the education ministry had not pursued its plan to purchase the land as its owner had agreed to sell it.
“The education ministry has been sitting on this issue for a long time,” he said.
On Jan 9, FMT reported that the landowner had built the current school premises in 2008 at Kampung Ujung Batu, Bagan Dalam, on the understanding that the education ministry would buy over the development. However, the ministry has since rejected the offer to buy.
Ramasamy also said Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy would be reaching out to landowner, Sri Avenue, to work out an amicable solution since land matters fall under the purview of the state.