Only a total of 196 dilapidated schools in the state have been fixed, upgraded or rebuilt so far using the federal government’s allocation throughout the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP). – File photo
KUCHING: Only a total of 196 dilapidated schools in the state have been fixed, upgraded or rebuilt so far using the federal government’s allocation throughout the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
This accounts for only 19.2 per cent of the overall total of 1,020 dilapidated schools in the state, said Minister of Education, Science and technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.
In his winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this morning, from 2016 until now, the federal government under the 11MP has spent about RM678.97 million for the state to fix, upgrade or rebuild dilapidated schools.
Out of that, RM100 million was allocated by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government under the 2020 National Budget, he added.
On the allocation of the RM1 billion by the federal government, the first tranche of RM350 million has been paid by the state government to fix the first 37 dilapidated schools in the state.
The second and third tranches of RM350 million and RM300 million respectively were scheduled to be paid in January and June 2020 respectively, said Manyin.
“The Education Department is still in the process of identifying schools to be upgraded,” he said.
Meanwhile, Manyin also highlighted that the state government has allocated RM35.765 million to rebuild SK Maludam in Betong and RM29.5 million to rebuild SK Ulu Segan in Bintulu.
Further through the Northern Corridor Development Programme of the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda), the state government also allocated RM160.5 million to upgrade or rebuild some 60 schools in Lawas and Limbang.
“Additionally Sarawak has allocated RM21 million under its Rural Transformation Initiative (RTI). However this RTI only undertakes critical repair and maintenance jobs, and does not upgrade the particular school from its dilapidated status,” he said.
He said the dilapidated schools in the state was a result of years of neglect and both the federal and state governments were duty bound to address the problem urgently, so that the teachers and students could work and study in a more conducive environment.
“As education is a federal matter, it is imperative upon them to provide the necessary funds while the State will assist to complement and supplement the federal government’s efforts.
“We are not blaming anybody for the problem of dilapidated schools in Sarawak,” stressed Manyin.