Getting from bad to worse

Children, teachers of many rural schools hit by recent floods still face hardship; relocation to higher ground remains most viable way to deal with problem, says minister

KUCHING: The condition of schools affected by last month’s floods has worsened, as experienced personally by a minister and his delegation during a recent visit to one in Tatau.

Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong and his entourage were on their way to a hostel at SK Nanga Tau on Wednesday afternoon when they heard a loud crack, seemingly coming from the wooden walkway.

It was discovered later that the structure was on the verge of collapsing. The visitors immediately stepped off the walkway and proceeded with their walkabout to other areas at the school.

Manyin was accompanied by Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee and officers from his ministry and the state Education Department during the trip to SK Nanga Tau, which was part of a two-day itinerary to visit eight schools in central and northern Sarawak affected by the floods.

Additionally, Manyin also announced the allocation agreed by both the state and federal governments for these schools to replace the damaged furniture and conduct repair works.

According to SK Nanga Tau headmaster Tuming Jipon, the school was built in 1965 but most of the wooden structures have remained unchanged since.

He told the visitors that the school was badly hit by floods from Feb 7 to 11, forcing it to close during that period. The inundation was triggered by incessant downpour that caused Kakus River to burst its banks.

“This time, the big flood was not expected as floodwaters rose so high that only the school’s roofs were not underwater.

“Flooding caused damage to our classroom furniture, and also mattresses at the hostels. The buildings were also affected, and we could only replace the flooring of the hostel with plywood, which was a temporary measure – even then, it (plywood flooring) might not be able to support heavier weights.

“The school depends on generator sets for electricity. But the recent floods also damaged the generators, and thankfully a (private company) had immediately responded by replacing those with new ones,” said Tuming, adding that following discussions with the parents, it was agreed that the school should be relocated to a higher ground.

In this regard, he said a site had been identified.

The situation at SK Muput Tatau, near Kakus River, is much worse – the school remains closed after the floods, with the pupils being housed temporarily at neighbouring SK Rumah Barrau.

As such, only the parents of the pupils welcomed the minister and the delegation during the Wednesday walkabout.

Prior to that, Manyin visited two schools in Selangau District – SK Nanga Selangau and SK Nanga Kua – which were also affected by floods.

At SK Nanga Kua, the headmaster Matu Ekum informed the visitors that the school, built in 1963, had been declared unsafe by the Public Works Department (JKR).

He said the school, located on the banks of Batang Mukah, had always been hit by floods, resulting in financial losses from damaged furniture, equipment and electrical wiring.

Matu told the minister that the school had applied for relocation to higher ground, hoping that this could be implemented as soon as possible.

Similarly, SK Nanga Selangau headmaster Bubong Janting also said of the proposal for the school to be moved to higher ground as the current site was flood-prone, and he also said the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) had agreed to this.

On Thursday morning, Manyin and his delegates – joined by the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman – visited SK Nanga Merit Limbang and SK Ulu Lubai, two predominantly-Iban schools in the state’s northern region.

Both schools, located near Sungai Lubai, were affected by floods, with SK Nanga Merit Limbang being flooded on three occasions – on Dec 19 to 21 last year and Jan 25-27 and Feb 5 to 7 this year.

SK Ulu Lubai, known as an award-winning rural school, was under 10 feet of water on Dec 20
last year – said to be the worst flood to hit the school in over 50 years after it was established in 1964.

“Floodwater from Sungai Lubai rose quickly, and we were not able to save many of the equipment and furniture. Our ‘Pusat Sumber’ (resource centre), once named ‘Best Resource Centre’ at district and state levels, was damaged,” said SK Ulu Lubai headmaster Jaul Bunyau.

In this regard, Manyin said a centralised school project meant to merge SK Nanga Merit Limbang with SK Ulu Lubai had been approved at a cost of RM23 million, with the construction to commence this year.

He said the allocations announced for the schools meant for repair works and replacement of items damaged by floods were only temporary solutions, in that the new school equipped with science laboratories and computer room would provide better learning environment for pupils upon its completion.

“Whatever amount of allocation given to the schools affected by the floods, (it) will eventually ‘go down the drain’ because the schools will again be affected by the next round of flooding. Therefore, I hope the schools could be relocated (to higher ground) or merged under one centralised school to be built elsewhere,” he said, adding that federal funds would be sought for this purpose.

Manyin and delegates also made stops at Kenyah-majority SK Long Sobeng and Berawan-majority SK Long Jegan, which were also inundated by floodwater overflowing Tinjar River.

SK Long Jegan headmaster Sami Bunda said the school, which has existed since 1964, was rarely visited by ministers.

“We’re touched by the visit from Manyin, which showed the minister’s concern over condition of rural schools.”

A parent at Long Sobeng, who did not want to be identified, hoped the federal government would take action to improve the condition of rural schools which have been largely neglected for more than 50 years since the formation of Malaysia.