Run-down schools to get priority, says minister

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Mahdzir (seventh left), Fatimah (fifth right), Alias (sixth left), Khair (second right), Rakayah (fourth left) and others gesture during a photo session after the event launching. — Photo by Chimon Upon

Mahdzir (seventh left), Fatimah (fifth right), Alias (sixth left), Khair (second right), Rakayah (fourth left) and others gesture during a photo session after the event launching. — Photo by Chimon Upon

LUNDU: The Education Ministry will give top priority to repairing and rebuilding 183 dilapidated schools in Sarawak.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said this decision was reached at the discussion between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg recently.

“It included ways the federal government can assist and duration required to repair or rebuild the schools,” he said in a press conference after launching the state-level ‘Guru Aktif 1Malaysia’ (GA1M) at SMK Lundu here yesterday.

Mahdzir said the schools would be divided into three categories, depending on their conditions, with the third category being the dilapidated schools which would be the ministry’s top priority.

“I acknowledge that Sarawak still needs a lot of allocation for the schools as many schools are still lagging behind. We will give top priority to repairing or rebuilding the 183 dilapidated schools that have been identified.”

As for schools that still use generator sets, Mahdzir revealed that there were 369 of such schools in the rural areas of Sarawak, adding that consideration could be given to such schools to be connected to the Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) electricity grid if the lines are nearby.

“We have to see the SEB grid lines. If the lines are not far from the schools, it can be considered to be included in the grid and therefore, the schools don’t have to rely on generator sets anymore.”

On another matter, Mahdzir said the Education Ministry had provided allocation to build 69 new schools in the state.

“The schools will either be newly built or replacement to the current schools due to age. These are allocation under the 10th Malaysia Plan and the Second Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan.”

GA1M is an initiative by the government to mobilise teachers to hold suitable activities with the community such as the parent-teacher association, non-governmental and charitable organisations.

Among those present during the event yesterday were Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Education director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad and state education director Rakayah Madon.