ALOR SETAR: The steady increase of non-Chinese pupils in Chinese primary schools (SJKC) is an inevitable trend, says Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia) president Datuk Tan Yew Sing.

However, there should be no change in teaching methods, school environment or its mission of preserving Chinese culture, he said.

More non-Chinese families are choosing SJKCs because they believe in the quality of education and appreciate the learning environment, he said.

Chinese schools should continue celebrating traditional Chinese festivals and  promoting Chinese culture, he said this at a dinner with Dong Zong affiliates held in Alor Setar on Friday night.

It is now common to see non-Chinese pupils outnumbering Chinese students in SJKCs in states such as Kedah, Perlis, the East Coast, and East Malaysia

In contrast, such cases are less common in central and southern Malaysia.

According to the latest Ministry of Education statistics, over the past 10 years the proportion of non-Chinese pupils in SJKCs has increased from 11.67 percent in 2014 to 18.52 percent in 2024, showing a steady upward trend.

Tan believes this momentum will continue to grow in the future.

“Is the increase in non-Chinese pupils a good or bad thing? No matter how you look at it, one thing is undeniable: it is an inevitable trend, and not something that can be easily changed.

“Such trend proves that SJKCs’ appeal has transcended ethnic boundaries.

“They are no longer just the first choice for Chinese families but also play an important role in fostering cross-ethnic integration within Malaysia’s multi-stream education system,’’ he said.