親愛的贊助人，
親愛的怡保育才校友及朋友們：
如果你們能夠在百忙中抽出一點時間來閱讀這封信，我們將會非常感激。我們希望能夠藉著你們的支持，重振學校的昔日光輝，在提供可負擔及有用的教育給大眾方面，扮演一個重要的角色。
（1）怡保育才學校的建立
我們的華族先賢於1908年在怡保創立了怡保育才學校，當時只有小學。直到1924年，育才才開始提供初中教育，並於1948年遷入霹靂中華大會堂位於怡保江沙路的建筑物，至于小學部仍然保留在休羅街（目前是蘇丹依斯干達路）。
（2） 成立育才國民型中學
1963年，當國民型中學形成後，在教育部的指示下，教學媒介語被定為英文，但獨立中學仍然使用中文。首批完成中五教育的国中生是在1967年，在過去40年來，怡保育才国中已經造就了數以萬計畢業生。
（3） 1967-2007
馬來西亞的教育制度在1980年代曾經出現很大的改變，作為國家團結的其中一項議程，所有中學的教學媒介語被更改為馬來文。然而，由于受到全球化趨勢的競爭，政府於數年前決定允許所有政府中學以英文教導數理科。基於育才国中是為大眾而設的一所學校，並從華文小學獲取學生的來源，基本上的學生家長都是來自低收入的一群，因此，這些年來的學業成績比不上其他主流中學，因為他們都吸納了不少家境較富有的學生。不過，育才国中這些年來還是成功造就了不少學業成績突出，在商場上有杰出表現的畢業生，至少在各方面都為我們的社會作出不少貢獻。
（4）前方的道路
配合育才學校於2008年慶祝建校100周年紀念，怡保育才国中董事部著手推展一項復興學校的大計，以滿足公眾人士，特別是條件較差一群對教育的需求。目前，學校的學生總數約有1千800人，分為上下午班上課。其實，學校的大部分建筑物及設施都已經非常陳舊及損壞，這是因為在缺乏經費的情況下，學校在過去30年來，不曾進行過任何大型的擴建或裝修。
一些人或許會詢問，為什么校方不向政府申請撥款來資助這些計划呢？我們必須認清的一個政治現實，就是一般的華文中學都沒有被列入政府優先發展計划中，完全不能夠和國民中學，甚至華文小學相比。此外，育才国中更面對一個很獨特的局面，就是學校的建筑物和所在地段屬于霹靂中華大會堂而不是政府。在這樣的情況下，我們一旦推行任何發展新校舍的計划，都不能夠取得政府的撥款資助。
無論如何，學校董事部還是堅決地通過各種管道，繼續向政府爭取財務援助，雖然事實証明我們不能夠取得全面的支援。由于我們的先賢於100年前，憑著他們的赤手空拳和本身辛苦賺取的財富，開創了這項深具意義的教育事業，為大眾尤其是華社提供了一個求學的良好的環境，因此，我們深切認為，目前正是我們發揮本身角色，發揚這項神聖的使命的時候，確保育才學校在未來100年繼續發展下去。育才国中的擴建計划包括：
第一期：建立一座內有實驗室、圖書館、語言中心及教室的5層大樓。鄰近將會有一座可以容納300人的講堂。同時，也計划在底層建造一座更大及擁有更好設施的食堂。估計費用800萬令吉。
第二期：一座可容納2千至2千500座位的多元用途禮堂，估計費用600萬令吉。
（5） 我们的目标
根據上述的各項設施，我們計划達致下列的目標：
（i） 实行全日制，確保老師及學生可以充分應用下午的時間進行課外活動。
（ii） 提供更新及更好的設施以確保可以應用資訊通訊工藝作為重要的教學器材。
（iii） 新大樓將擁有冷氣設備以改善學習環境。
（iv） 在最短時間內開設中六班。
（v） 在注重華文及馬來文的同時，新的語言中心及講堂將加強學習英語。隨著中國崛起成為世界的經濟強國，那些可以掌握華文及英語的學生將在就業甚至发展事業上，擁有一定的優勢。
學校董事部充分了解到辦學的主要目的是要為大眾提供基本的教育，因此，我們需要滿足來自不同阶层及生活背景學生各方面的需求。在追求卓越的學朮表現之餘，我們認為照顧那些在學業上表現不是那麼特出的學生，或者提供訓練給他們也是很重要的。只有這樣，我們才能夠確保他們將來畢業後，能夠繼續過著有意義的生活，通過技職方面的專長為國家的美好將來作出貢獻。
你是否知道，我國每年都有12萬2千名學業成績不是那麼理想、對學業沒有興趣或面對家庭問題的華裔子弟，離開學校到社會上謀生。有鑒於此，我們非常關注這個事實，並以交替方式，為他們提供技職訓練如修理汽車、烹飪、美容護理及其他方面的技能，讓他們趁早接觸這方面的技藝，確保在社會上有更好的出路。適當的道德教育更是我們所注重的，培養品德兼優的國民向來是我們教育系統的骨幹。
親愛的朋友，年輕及未來的新生代殷切需要我們的協助和引導，在未來100年為國家建設培養更多人才。你的支持將在這項百年教育大業上繼續發光發熱。
«涓滴变海，众志成城»。捐款无分多少，我们一致衷心的感谢。同时，我们也准备了特有意义的捐款方式，请各位善心人士慷慨支持。育才国中扩建计划成功与否，全靠大家！
怡保育才國中董事長 梁和星先生 及
怡保育才國中副董事長兼扩建委員會主席 关和贵先生 同启
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A Letter from Us
Dear Honourable Sponsors,
Dear Yuk Choy School Old Boys, Alumnae and Friends:
We would greatly appreciate it if you could spend a few minutes to read our mail below despite your busy schedule. It is our sincere hope that you will support us in our bid to restore the school to its past glory; to play an important role in providing affordable and vital education for the masses.
(1) The Founding of Yuk Choy School, Ipoh
Yuk Choy School was founded by our Chinese forefathers in the year 1908. It began as a Primary School and expanded to include Junior Secondary in 1924. Yuk Choy Junior Secondary moved into the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall Building along Kuala Kangsar Road in 1948 while the Primary School remained at Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah (formerly known as Hugh Low Street).
(2) The Formation of Yuk Choy National Type Secondary School
In 1963, in accordance with a new directive issued by the government, the medium of instruction was changed to English with the formation of the National Type Secondary School ( Sekolah Menegah Jenis Kebangsaan or S.M.J.K. in Bahasa Malaysia ) while the Independent Secondary School continued to use Chinese. The first batch of students completed their form 5 education in 1967 and since then, the School has produced thousands of graduates over the past 40 years.
(3) Year 1967-2007
The Malaysian Education System went through another policy change in the early 1980s. The medium of instruction was switched to Bahasa Malaysia as part of the government’s efforts to promote National Unity. Of late, due to the growing demands of Globalization and the need for Scientific advancement, the Government has decided that Science and Mathematics should again be taught in English in all government schools. Yuk Choy School caters to the masses and draws its student base from several Chinese Primary Schools in the vicinity. As most of the students belong to families in the lower income group, their academic results have not been very encouraging. Nevertheless, the School has produced many students who have excelled academically or who have achieved success in business, thereby contributing to society in their own way.
(4) The Next 100 Years
In conjunction with the Centenary celebrations of the founding of Yuk Choy School in 2008, The Board of Governors of SMJK Yuk Choy has embarked on an ambitious plan to revive the School to meet the educational needs of the masses, particularly the less privileged. Currently the School has a student population exceeding 1800 and classes are conducted in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Most if not all of the school buildings and facilities are old and dilapidated as no major expansion or renovation works had been carried out in the past 30 years due to lack of funds.
The question has been raised as to why little or no government funding has been given for such projects. We need to understand the political reality that generally, Chinese National Type Secondary Schools are not on the priority list of government development programmes as compared to National Schools and even Chinese Primary Schools. Moreover, Yuk Choy School faces a unique dilemma as the land and buildings still belong to the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall and NOT the government. As such, any plans for an extension to the existing buildings will not receive any financial assistance from the government. Nevertheless the School Board has endeavoured to seek government aid through various channels. The fact remains we would not get full support.
Our forefathers started this meaningful educational enterprise 100 years ago and sacrificed their time and hard-earned money for the masses, in particular the Chinese. Thus, we feel strongly it's time for us to do our part to contribute to this noble cause so that the School will stand as a beacon for the next 100 years. The expansion project consists of:
Phase 1— The construction of a 5-storey block for new laboratories, a library, language resource centres and classrooms. There will also be an Auditorium with a seating capacity of 300. A new and bigger Canteen with better facilities will be located at the Ground Floor. Estimated cost : RM 8.0 millions.
Phase 2— A new Multi-Purpose Hall with a seating capacity of 2000 to 2500. Estimated cost : RM 6.0 millions.
(5) Our Objectives
With the above mentioned facilities, we plan to achieve the following objectives:
(i) A single session school so that the teachers and students would be able to make use of the afternoons for extra-curricular activities.
(ii) New and better facilities to cater to the use of ICT as an important learning tool.
(iii) Air-conditioning for this new block to promote a conducive learning environment.
(iv) To cater for Form 6 classes in the near future.
(v) The new Language Resource Centre and Auditorium will enhance the learning of English as well as Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia. With the emergence of China as a world economic power, students who can master both Chinese and English will have a clear advantage in their careers.
As the main purpose of the school is to provide education for the masses, the School Board is fully aware of the need to cater to the various needs of the students who come from diverse social-economic backgrounds. In addition to academic excellence, we find it equally important to ensure that the less academically-inclined are also given attention and training to prepare them to lead a useful life and to have the means to contribute to the betterment of Malaysia, our country.
Do you know that in Malaysia an average of 122,000 Chinese students reportedly drop out annually due to poor academic performance, loss of interest in studies and broken homes. Thus emphasis will be given to early exposure to skills ranging from motor-repairs, cooking, tailoring and other vocational skills as an alternative to academic achievement. Needless to say proper moral education to produce well-rounded and caring citizens will always form the backbone of our educational programmes.
Dear Friends, our young and future generations deserve all the help and nurture that they can get as that is an important part of Nation Building in the next 100 years. Your support will go a long way in the continuance of this century-long educational enterprise.
We have now embarked on our fund-raising campaign. Please donate generously towards our fund. No amount is too small nor too big. At the same time, we have also devised some meaningful modes of donation and we sincerely hope we can have your staunch support. Your generosity and benevolence will be deeply appreciated by all of us, especially the students, and help making the new school building a reality.
We are in the process of applying for tax exemption from the Government. and will notify you once it is approved.
Thank You Very Much.
Yours Sincerely,
Chairman of the Board of Governors SMJK Yuk Choy, Ipoh
Mr Leong Foh Sen and,
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors,
Chairman of the School Building Fund Committee SMJK Yuk Choy, Ipoh
Mr Kwan Foh Kwai
