KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry plans to build temporary or alternative buildings in an effort to upgrade aging schools which are in poor condition especially those in the rural and remote areas.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said the proposal was submitted to the Development Action Committee Meeting (JTPK) on May 20 for its implementation.
“As an example, we have implemented this at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Penimbawan in Sabah and the alternative building expected to be ready in three months time is found to have 20 years sustainability,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat here, yesterday.
Yap was replying to a supplementary question raised by Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut) on the ministry’s ‘extraordinary’ measure in solving problems faced by aging schools including the lack of clean water supply in areas such Ulu Tembeling, Jerantut.
As such Yap said the ministry was just waiting for the approval from the Prime Minister’s Office, Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to construct the temporary buildings.
Earlier, in reply to an original question from Datuk Mohd Idris Jusi (PKR-Batu Pahat) on the same issue, Yap said immediate steps were also taken to address problems related to aging schools and infrastructure facilities especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
“For the year 2015, the Sarawak State Education Department (JPN) had given priority to aging rural schools in Baram, Belaga and Kapit districts,” she said.
In addressing water and electricity supply problems, the ministry had sought the cooperation of Sarawak Public Works Department especially in terms of expertise assistance, she said.
An education development committee comprising the relevant agencies were also formed in both states to tackle development issues and problematic projects, she added. — Bernama