Sivanesan assures support for name change for Gopeng Tamil School to Thiruvalluvar Tamil School
GOPENG: A recent site visit by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh to the redevelopment project at SJK (T) Gopeng on the 27th of March 2026 has sparked discussions within the Indian community about a potential name change for the 80-year-old Tamil School.
During the inspection of the new building’s construction plans, VIP visitors uncovered an original commemorative plaque from 1964. The plaque, which marks the school’s opening by then-Education Minister Tan Sri Khir Johari, identifies it as “Thiruvalluvar Tamil School” rather than its current name, SJK (T) Gopeng.
The discovery has surprised local educators and the Tamil community, raising questions about when and why the school’s name was changed from that of the celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar, who wrote the world famous ‘Thirukkural’.
Deputy Minister for Education Wong Kah Woh has instructed school authorities to ensure that the historic plaque is carefully preserved and integrated into the new three-storey building as part of an RM14.5 million redevelopment project for the school.
Sivanesan assures support for name change
Perak State Executive Councillor Dato’ A. Sivanesan has expressed strong support for reverting the school’s name to its historical original. He noted that before moving to its current site, the school had operated from various locations, including a Chinese school and a local eatery.
“If the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the School Board of Management wish to officially rename the school back to Thiruvalluvar Tamil School, I am committed to providing the necessary support and administrative assistance to make it happen,” said Sivanesan.
The school, originally established in 1964, is currently undergoing a 22-month redevelopment process under the 13th Malaysia Plan, with completion expected by late 2028.
