KOTA MARUDU: Members of the board of governors of government-assisted independent schools play a crucial role in determining the academic success of such schools, Bandau MP Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said Saturday.

Officiating at the swearing-in of the SJK (Cina) Khoi Ming board here, he said that the success of government-assisted independent schools was very dependent on the professional inputs, guidance and financial support of board members and parents.

"In such schools, the government provides only capital grants and salaries of teachers while maintenance and other development needs are the responsibility of the respective schools," he said.

It was therefore imperative for such schools to be creative, resourceful and hardworking to ensure the basic needs of teachers and students were met so that they could perform their best, he said.

Ongkili, who is Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president, paid tribute to SJK (C) Khoi Ming for its contributions to the educational development in Kota Marudu and for forging community understanding and unity.