SELANGOR state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar said many Tamil schools did not have basic facilities although the country has been independent for more than 50 years, reported Malaysia Nanban.

He said there were some schools which conducted their classes in warehouses and under trees.

He added that in the 1980s and 1990s, many parents were not interested in sending their children to Tamil schools due to the deplorable conditions, which made it unsafe for them.

He said the trend had changed and more Indian parents were eager to send their children to Tamil schools due to the excellent academic performance by students in such schools.

He said the involvement of the Education Ministry, political parties and public organisations in upgrading the schools had brought greater awareness among the parents.

He said there were currently about 30,000 students in Tamil schools in Selangor and about 80% came from poor families.