MALAYSIAN INDEPENDENT CHINESE SECONDARY SCHOOL（MICSS）WORKING COMMITTEE

The implementation of the Education Act 1961 in the country has led to the conversion of many Chinese secondary schools into English secondary schools. However, Chinese secondary schools that refused to convert became independent Chinese secondary schools and thus received no operational funds. Following this restructuring of schools, situations plunged into a historical low for the running of independent Chinese secondary schools. As there were no more subsidies from the government, these independent Chinese secondary schools suffered from funds shortage and rapid decline in the numbers of student enrolment, with their survival and development in limbo.

The Chinese community, in a bid to save their mother tongue education, ignited a Revival Movement for independent Chinese secondary schools in the 1970s. The torch of the movement was first lit in Perak, to which overwhelming response was then received across the country. In 1973, Dong Jiao Zong convened the General Assembly of the National Movement for the Development of Independent Chinese Secondary Schools, and accepted the Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School Proposal (MICSS Proposal), and established the Dong Jiao Zong Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary School Development Working Committee, also known as MICSS Working Committee.

The main obligation of the MICSS Working Committee is to develop the independent Chinese secondary schools and to optimise the advantages of mother tongue education on the basis of implementing the MICSS Proposal. Various sub-working committees were set up by the MICSS Working Committee for tasks like compiling unified textbooks, conducting unified examinations, and promoting the training of teachers, vocational education, guidance to students on furthering their studies, student activities, scholarship and study loan, etc.

In this vein, Dong Zong and Jiao Zong will delegate 13 representatives to the MICSS Working Committee respectively. During the first Joint Session Meeting of the 26 representatives from Dong Zong and Jiao Zong, another 13 persons of individuals or representatives from other organisations who are enthusiastic about the Chinese education will be appointed as Appointed Members of the committee.

The administrative operations of the MICSS Working Committee are carried out by the administration department of Dong Zong. That said, Dong Zong is responsible for hiring staff to implement the work of the MICSS Working Committee and its sub-committees.

Objectives

1. To promote and develop the cause of Chinese education and culture in Malaysia;
2. To promote and develop independent Chinese secondary schools;
3. To promote the superiority of mother tongue education in accordance with the MICSS Proposal; and
4. To raise fund for the educational development of independent Chinese secondary schools.