Back in October, I posted what I had heard regarding the possibility of St Joe going private, but at that time the news was not yet official. You can go to that posting by clicking HERE .
Anyway, over the past two days, there have been a number of reports in The Star newspaper. I have been sent digital snapshots of some of them (thanks Leo & Bob!) .... Part of the text may not be very clear, so I hope to find a website link later.
Read it carefully and answer for yourselves the question: Is St Joseph's really going private?
Slightly zoomed in ...
And continued here on Page SA2 ...
Incidentally, Dominique Ng (Kim Ho) is a former Josephian (Form 5Sc1, 1978.
.The CM expresses his view ...
and finally ...
I'm sure this posting will evoke some emotional comments from different parties. Over to you, parents and students, boys and girls ...
.
Is not clear??? Will there be a St Joe (Govt) and a St Joe (Private) Schools???
ReplyDeleteWhat do you guys think eh? Is privatising St Joe a good thing or not?
ReplyDeleteHow much does the Government give to St Joe when it is a government school anyway? I assume being private means the school has to find that money to keep running each year. Anyone have the infor?
ReplyDeleteSorry if this is a silly question. Why does St Joe need to go private?
ReplyDeleteWho's going to be the Principal of the new private school? Very important.
ReplyDeleteI hope by privatization of the school, we do not make true that saying by a certain Laurence J. Peter that "Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices".
ReplyDeleteOn the list of "VIP Alumni" in the Star is a certain "Sim Kwang Yang". Is he the Kwang Yang of Form Five Arts 1976?
ReplyDeleteIt's not too late to re-establish St Joe as a truly catholic institution, the one (50's & 60's) that we knew too well. Hats off to Archbishop Ha for his bold move.
ReplyDeleteNeed funding? Hey ... those food & fun fairs can be re-kickstarted .... like those that we never failed to patronize at the St Michael's club. More to look at the gals really!!
That Sim Kwang Yang is the former DAP YB for Padungan and Bandar Kuching. Not the SKY of 1976.
ReplyDeleteNot sure who will be principal of the privatized St Joe but Gerald Lee will most likely be the CEO. He was former St Joe principal after Bro Columba and later Director of Lodge Schools.
I think there may be branding and reputational difficulties to come if we have two sets of St Joe - Govt and Private. Much as a lot of excitement and support now seems to be going in support of St Joe (Private). However the name St Joe will presumably still remain with the existing (govt) school. Can we really stand by to support St Joe (Private) while St Joe (Govt)'s standards continue to diminish? After all it still carries the name St Joe?
ReplyDeleteWhere will St Joe (Private) be located? At the current premises or do they have to find new land? St Joe will not be St Joe without our old familiar buildings :-(
ReplyDeleteSim Kwang Yang (the former YB) has a blog - Hornbill Unleashed.
ReplyDeleteThere are postings on SJS and the La Salle bros here :
http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/2395/#more-2395
https://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/2161/
Besides that there are some other very interesting postings as well.
I sure the VIP alumni list a lot longer than that leh ..
ReplyDeleteFirst SJS next STS ?
ReplyDeleteBring back Bro Columba, Adrian and Mark ! They can do their magic again :)
ReplyDeleteAnon 6,16, the VIP alumni list sure is a lot lot longer. As mentioned by YB Dominique in the news article, half of the State's Cabinet are ex-students.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against the Church taking the school private, but feel a certain unease as to why the State's Chief Executive needed to comment on the matter.
can we invite some new La Salle brothers to come over? repeat history?
ReplyDeleteGet the legendary Science and Maths teachers back - Mr Sebastian, Mr Mathai, Mr Joseph, Mr Clarence & Mr William Chan :)
ReplyDeleteSt Joseph's MUST become an ELITE school, but agree it should try not to be ELITIST.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to do something after St.Joe is rated as a mediocre school in kch. Basically, the education system in malaysia is sucking big time, at least a private school provides alternative option.
ReplyDeleteJosephians unite, we need to show our support ...
ReplyDeleteWhat about the other mission run schools in Sarawak? Like Sacred Heart, Sibu?
ReplyDeleteIf St Joe starts a Private schools (Pri and Sec), how will it really work? Start with just Primary 1 and Form 1? Then progressively extend? Someone told me that might be the way.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we could buy shares or bonds as investment in this truly worthwide project.
ReplyDeleteA long term, excellent ROI, and at some point St Joe will IPO, get into KLSE and we all make back our investments many folds.
We will continue to "make" St Joe the name it was!
Come on WJ...expresss this to the brothers, would you? I am ready to buy some if that happens.....
Class of 76 - so whats gonna happen to the chairs, tables and projector that you donated last year when SJS get privatised?
ReplyDeleteAnd after privatisation , do they still need such donations? Do they still need our 'giving back'?
Hi Confused Anon,
ReplyDeleteI reckon it will take some time before St Joe (Private) takes off.
In the meantime, hundreds of students continue to be educated under the St Joe logo. I think most of those in the Class of 76 who "gave back" to their Alma Mater last year did not know about the upcoming privatization plans, and even if they did I don't think it would have made much difference to their desire to play a small part in enhancing the school's educational efforts.
As to whether more donations are needed after privatization, I think we really can't answer that until more of the privatization plans are revealed.
I'm not sure how accurate this info is ... heard that there'll be a St. Joe Fund Raising and Reunion Dinner 2011 on 8th Apr 2011.. CM Taib and wife officially invited as Guests of Honour. La Salle Brothers who were former principals of the school also informed to see if they can fly into Kuching for the event ... Can anyone confirm or otherwise?
ReplyDeleteGeorgie boy can email Bro. C and find out if he is coming or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd are you coming WJ? They should also invite all past office bearers of the Old Boys Asso. including JY Sr who was once a former Deputy President.
The event has been confirmed. For details, check out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153594098030185
(best to paste it into your browser)
Book your flights WJ and all non-Kuching residents.
ReplyDeleteAnon 22 Feb, 3:49PM > I think JY Sr was actually OBA President 81-84
ReplyDeleteThe fund raising dinner is at Riverside Majestic at 7:30pm, 8th April.
ReplyDeleteWho's going to the dinner?
ReplyDeleteGeorge (our lawyer boy Georgie boy right) commented at an older posting and indicated that St Joe private will be at the old St Bernedette while our alma mater St Joe will remain operating where it is as usual.
ReplyDeleteHis comments here: http://josephians-of-the-seventies.blogspot.com/2010/10/news-st-josephs-going-private.html?showComment=1298771018026
Really confused now. Is there going to be 2 St Joes?
I thought the instituition that the church is taking private is the present St Joe, our alma mater.
I am not privy to any of church's plans, so these are personal views. I reckon we need to appreciate that school privatization is not a simple matter. The process is challenging and will likely take many years to complete.
ReplyDeleteActually I can see the rationale for maintaining two St Joe's for quite a while.
For those who thought it would be process of "flipping a switch" to immediately make today's St Joe fully private may not have fully thought about the existing student population. Do we start charging them private fees? Is it fair?
Another question in my mind is what are the Government's plans for the existing St Joe? Do they wish to continue operating it for the foreseeable future? Or will there be a point (perhaps in 6-7 years time) when St Joe (Govt) ceases to exist and is totally replaced by St Joe (Private)?
WHAT?????? St Joe (Private) is not going to be at present St Joe premises?
ReplyDeletePresent St. Joe Sec and primary NOT going private......because of 'pro and con', this and that.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there will be a new co-ed private school, starting next year, maybe using St.Joe name, for form 1 and primary 1.
Registration most likely will be in April, this year.
Names like Father Stephen Lim, Gerard Lee, Datuk Christopher Sim and Martin Chai are mentioned.
School will most likely be the old block no.1 of former St. Bernedette School. Block no.2 is been use by St. Jude Kindergarten at the moment.
Education Ministry of KL already visited the place last year and approved the place/old block.
I think my 'news' is 70% correct if not 90%.
Over to you boys.....
Beritacaster, what you mean "MAYBE using St Joe name"? Only maybe? Not certain yet?
ReplyDeleteNot certain yet anon 11.10pm, don't know what the new private school will call.
ReplyDeleteI also heard that starting next year, 2012, primary 1 and form 1 in present St. Joe schools, will start paying school fees, etc, etc.
How true I don't really know but I'll keep my ears wide open okay?
HELLO ALL, ANY FURTHER NEWS On ST JOE PRIVATE? SHARE PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteLatest news
ReplyDeleteThe new St Joseph Private School in Kuching will open its door to an initial enrolment of 120 pupils from January 2012.
Tender for the new RM8.5 million building, situated at Satok Road (behind Rumah Dayak) has been awarded and construction is scheduled to start next month.
Proposed by the Catholic Arch-Diocese here and the La Sallean Foundation, the project has the support of the Chief Minister Taib Mahmud as well as parents in and around the state capital.
Three Form 1 classes and one each of Primary 1 and 2 classes will be run by the Jesuit Priests and Franciscan Sisters temporarily at the St Bernadette School at Reservoir Road.
will the students still use the same badge? What about school rally?
ReplyDelete