PUNCAK ALAM: Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) today marked the groundbreaking of SJK(C) Eco Grandeur, a new primary school designed to provide an inclusive, sustainable and conducive learning environment for children in Eco Grandeur and the wider Puncak Alam community.

The ceremony was officiated by Minister of Education YB Puan Fadhlina binti Sidek and attended by Deputy Minister of Education YB Wong Kah Woh, representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Selangor State Education Department, state and local authorities, the school’s Pro-tem Building Committee, EcoWorld and the Eco World Foundation.

Eco World Foundation Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the school represented an important milestone in the continued growth of Eco Grandeur.

“Homes and infrastructure give a township its physical form, but it is institutions such as schools that help a community truly take root and flourish. For families in Eco Grandeur and the wider Puncak Alam community, this school will become an important part of their children’s everyday lives and their hopes for the future,” he said.

Situated on a 6.69-acre site within Eco Grandeur, the school will comprise 24 primary classrooms and two preschool classrooms, with capacity for up to 960 students.

Supporting facilities will include a multipurpose hall with two indoor badminton courts, a sheltered basketball court, a school field and outdoor spaces, a canteen and student amenities. Covered walkways and waiting areas, controlled access and a dedicated drop-off and traffic-flow system will contribute to a safer and more orderly environment for students, parents and educators.

Tan Sri Lee said the school had been planned around the needs of those who would use it, with accessibility and inclusion considered from the outset.

“Every child has potential. What they need is the opportunity and the right environment to realise it. Our aspiration is for SJK(C) Eco Grandeur to be a school where every child feels welcomed and supported, and is able to learn, participate and grow with dignity,” he said.

A key feature of the school is its continuous ramp system, which connects the ground floor to Level 4 and provides barrier-free access throughout the building. The system is designed to support students, educators and visitors with different mobility needs.

The inclusive design has been recognised by the ASEAN Book of Records and Asia Book of Records as the “First Primary School with a Continuous Ramp System designed to provide uninterrupted step-free access to all four storeys”. The recognitions were presented during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The school also incorporates a range of environmentally responsible features. These include provisions for solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system for landscape irrigation, and natural ventilation and daylighting to reduce energy use while creating cleaner and more comfortable spaces.

A “Library in the Park”, set within a green environment at the heart of the school, will provide an inviting space for reading, learning and interaction. The school’s master plan has also been designed to accommodate future expansion in tandem with the growth of the surrounding community.

Tan Sri Lee added that education has always been central to the work of the Eco World Foundation. Since its establishment in 2014, the Foundation has supported approximately 11,000 students through its education programmes, with around 2,000 students receiving assistance each year. As at 30 June 2026, it had committed a total of RM32 million towards education.

The Foundation has also helped 106 students pursue tertiary studies, 16 of whom are currently continuing their education.

“Through our Students Aid Programme and various school-based initiatives, we have seen how access to education can change the direction of a child’s life. Children need more than textbooks and classrooms. They also need encouragement, stability and an environment in which they feel supported and included,” Tan Sri Lee said.

He expressed EcoWorld’s appreciation to YB Puan Fadhlina for approving the establishment of the new school and the change of its proposed name from SJK(C) Tun Lim Chong Eu to SJK(C) Eco Grandeur, giving it an identity closely connected to the community it will serve.

Tan Sri Lee also thanked Deputy Minister of Education YB Wong Kah Woh and the officers of the Ministry of Education and Selangor State Education Department for their guidance and assistance throughout the approval process. He also expressed his appreciation to the Selangor State Government, PTG Selangor, the Kuala Selangor District and Land Office, and the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council for facilitating and expediting the necessary approvals.

He further acknowledged the school’s Pro-tem Building Committee, consultants and project team for their commitment, hard work and perseverance in bringing the project to the groundbreaking stage.

SJK(C) Eco Grandeur is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and welcome its first students for the 2028 academic session.