BINTULU: Priority in education development will be given to rural schools in Sarawak and Sabah under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong.
GOING TO THE GROUND: Wee (right) listening to the issues brought up by a community leader.
10MP allocation for this purpose would be higher than that under the 9MP or at similar level, he added.
“Sarawak and Sabah received the highest allocation for their education development, which is one third (around RM13 billion) of the overall allocation of RM20 billion under 9MP,” he said.
He was refuting allegations of insufficient allocation for education development in Sarawak and Sabah made by the opposition.
He also disclosed that under his ministry, allocation for education infrastructure development for the two states is more than 35 per cent of the overall allocation.
“If the opposition said we only gave a token or a few per cent of allocation it is not correct. Under the 10MP, priority will be given to the schools located in the rural areas.
“The ministry understands the situation in Sarawak – its huge area and higher costs of construction,” he told the media after having a dialogue with several parties from Bintulu Education Department and local authorities at SK Orang Kaya Mohammad yesterday.
He added the ministry was scrutinising and auditing the list of schools particularly in the rural areas of Sarawak and Sabah, which needed assistance and upgrading.
“So any school that we think is unsafe, not conducive for teaching and learning, will be given priority.”
He pointed out that for quality education access under the NKRA, the ministry will ensure schools have quality infrastructure including construction of new schools and upgrading works.
On the problems faced by SK Orang Kaya Mohammad in Jalan Abang Galau here, the deputy minister assured that appropriate solutions would be found.
“I was made to understand that the school is facing traffic problems due to its location in the town centre with land constraint.
“Bintulu Development Authority has provided a
5-acre plot, complete with field adjacent to the current school area (for a new school building).
“And I was also made to understand that this project is to be given priority under the 10MP,” he said adding that estimated cost for the construction of the new school will be more than RM20 million.
The actual allocation for a new school building has been approved under the 9MP.
However the ministry then allocated RM29 million for the construction of SK Kampung Baru Bintulu due to some outstanding land issue faced by SK Orang Kaya Mohammad in 2008.
Wee said in a week, he will make sure all the outstanding problems faced by the school would be solved and he and the Bintulu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing would try their best to include projects for the school in the 10MP.
In the meantime, the school will be upgraded upon the completion of its new building.