STU: Sarawak schools lagging behind in infrastructure

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Jisin Nyud

Jisin Nyud

SIBU: Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) is urging the government to ensure that schools in Sarawak have at least the minimum level of acceptable infrastructure.

STU president Jisin Nyud pointed out that it appeared that the state was still lagging behind the target set under Wave 1 of the National Education Blueprint (2013-2015) that every school should have basic essentials such as sufficient physical infrastructure and access to utilities.

“Next, undertake immediate maintenance on schools in critical need of repairs and upgrading facilities and equipment across all schools to support evolving learning requirements of students over time.

“The government has (to) walk the talk otherwise this aspiration will be just beautiful on paper only,” Jisin told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Therefore, he hoped, with the recent visits to various schools in the state by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, the ministry would fulfil its part to upgrade and repair the schools.

To STU, the ministry’s intention to enforce value-management analysis for large projects is commendable but it must understand that cost depends on location, said Jisin.

Nevertheless, it should take immediate action on schools which are in danger of collapsing either by repairing or demolishing them and building new ones, he continued.

“We don’t want any casualty and we don’t want students or teachers to live in constant danger of injuries and even losing their lives due to the dilapidated condition of the schools,” he asserted.

On a related matter, he said STU was happy to note that the state Education Department would rebuild and relocate SK Kampung Buda in Spaoh, Betong which was destroyed by a landslide recently.

According to media reports, the school suffered 80 per cent devastation; among the structures that collapsed and were severely damaged were the classroom block for Primary 4 to 6, pre-school block, a nine-unit teacher’s quarters, surau, toilets, guard house, science room, textbooks room, resource room, j-QAF room and the jetty.

Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah was reported to have said some of the affected students and teachers of SK Kampung Buda would be temporarily placed at SK Spaoh located 18 km away as an interim measure to ensure students continue to attend classes.

“The top-up of RM1 million which had been agreed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, whereby the allocation is going to be sourced from the Education Ministry under the Disaster Relief Assistance, is very much looked forward to in order to speed up the process of rebuilding and relocating this school to the new site,” Jisin said.