Repair of 37 schools to be tendered out by Dec, says CM

0

Abang Johari signs the new building plan for SK Sungai Tisang during his working visit to the school witnessed by Manyin (on Abang Johari’s right) and others.

BINTULU: Repair works for all 37 schools listed as critically dilapidated by the Sarawak government will be tendered out by December this year using the RM350 million from the federal government.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said repair works for five of the schools were tendered out last month followed by two more this month, with works for the remaining 30 schools to be tendered out next month and in December.

He said this yesterday during a working visit to SK Sungai Tisang here, which is one of the 37 schools, where works to upgrade one administrative block, teachers’ room, resource room, science room, one block of 12 classrooms and covered walkway will be tendered out next month.

“With the completion of this upgrading, it would give more convenience to the pupils of SK Sungai Tisang,” he said, adding repair works for the other schools will be carried out in stages.

Abang Johari said of the RM350 million, RM65.265 million would go towards the rebuilding and relocation of two schools – SMK Maludam in Betong and SMK Ulu Segan here – at a cost of RM35.765 million and RM29.5 million respectively.

A sum of RM50 million will go to connecting 128 schools to the main electricity grid while RM9 million to connect 41 rural schools to treated water supply.

He said RM160.05 million will be allocated to upgrade 62 schools in the northern region through the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda); RM21 million to repair and improve facilities in 66 schools through rural transformation projects (RTPs) and; RM37 million through the Special Development Assistance Fund (SDAF) to assist government-aided schools to improve their facilities.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said the state will pay the second tranche of its RM1 billion-loan repayment agreement with Putrajaya in January 2020, followed by the final tranche in June the same year.

“I expect 107 dilapidated schools in the state will be upgraded with this RM1 billion loan paid by the state government to the federal government,” he said, adding priority will be given to low-enrolment schools and schools in flood-prone areas that require immediate relocation.

Last month, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin was reported as saying his ministry had submitted a list of 37 critically-dilapidated schools in the state to Putrajaya, to be repaired immediately.

His ministry had previously stated that there are 1,020 schools in Sarawak that are listed as dilapidated, including 415 considered critically dilapidated.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Manyin, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi and Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing were among those present during Abang Johari’s working visit to the school.