BATU NIAH: The rundown wooden structure of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Rancangan Sepupok will be replaced by a concrete structure under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).
Deputy Minister of Education Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said most of the school buildings such as administration block and classrooms were in a dilapidated state with the wood rotting from being eaten by termites.
According to him, the suggestion to rebuild the school blocks will be brought in the second rolling of the 10MP.
“I have visited more than 12 schools in the province of Sibuti, Bekenu and Subis, and SK Rancangan Sepupok is one school that needs immediate action, meaning to be rebuilt. I will bring this matter to the Cabinet in more detail in the near future.”
“In the mean time, we have not come up with the amount of allocation needed for the schools, however, we want the new building to be concrete. The dilapidated schools are not worth renovating as it is not economical in the long term,” he told The Borneo Post after his visit to SK Rancangan Sepupok, about 110 kilometres from Miri.
The school was built through the cooperation of nearby longhouse folk in 1976. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) had urged the government to give the dilapidated wooden school building a face-lift.
Meanwhile, Puad said Barisan Nasional government had allocated about RM35 billion to develop the education sector in the country under the 10MP.
He revealed that under the second rolling of the 10MP, the government would build another four new schools at a cost of RM158 million, not including the cost of face-lifting schools nationwide.
“Through the initiative, the government has shown the commitment to ensure schooling children, especially in the interior area, enjoy a conducive teaching and learning environment compatible to those in urban areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the clean piped water supply to the school, he said pipe installing work is in progress and expected to be completed by 2012. Also accompanying the work visits were Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Lambir assemblyman Datuk Aidan Wing, PTA chairman Napi Madang and headmaster Walter Suring Mawan.
Puad was on a working visit to schools and meeting up with nearby longhouse folk from Feb 28.
Among the schools visited were SK Kuala Sibuti, SK Beliau Isa, SK Rumah Mentali, SMK Subis, SJK Chee Mung, SK Kita, SK Kampung Masjid and SMK Luar Bandar Subis.