A LOT has been said about how parents are being asked to donate or contribute to schools where their children study.

Yet, every year, every State Education Department is given a budget of millions of ringgit, and the relevant department will use up the entire budget as it cannot be carried forward to the following year.

To do this, the department will carry out seminars, courses and study tours.

Most of these seminars and courses are conducted in hotels. Why can’t these activities be carried out at government premises?

For example, induction courses for teachers in Penang are conducted at a hotel in Langkawi. I don’t see the rationale behind this. The money spent should instead be channelled to the schools.

BANG RAJAN,

Penang.

Source: The Star – January 9, 2008