Anthony (right) and the school’s building committee members showing the ageing condition of the existing two-storey school building.
PAPAR: The Saint Joseph Secondary School here, one of the oldest schools in Sabah, is in dire need of financial assistance to complete its new building.
Its Alumni Association president, Datuk John Anthony, who is also the school’s Building Committee chairman, said the two blocks of building are now 78 per cent complete, and they still needed about RM2.5 million for overall completion of the project.
He appealed to all former students of the school as well as generous individuals, corporate organisations and the government to help in the effort to complete the whole project, which is crucial for the 67-year-old school and its ever increasing students.
He said the new school building project, which is divided into two phases and constructed on the existing school site, consists of two blocks of four-storey permanent building which, upon completion, shall provide 16 classrooms, laboratories, school resource room, administration office, meeting room and staff room.
“The total cost of the project is estimated at RM4.5 million. The first phase of the school extension work began on Mar 21, 2017, and completed on Nov 16, 2018.
The second phase began on March 5, last year, and is expected to complete on March 4, this year.
“The status of funding, which is sourced from donation and through assistance from government, is currently at RM2.1 million. Based on the current funding at hand, we still require about RM2.5 million for the overall completion of the proposed new school building.
“The physical progress as on February, 2020, is 78 per cent which is another few steps towards completion, so near yet so far,” he told reporters at a press conference held at the school yesterday.
The school’s principal, Jenith Mahibol, as well as its administration and board members were also present.
Anthony said the new school building was crucial considering the deteriorating and ageing state of the current school block, which had become too expensive to maintain and could not accommodate modern learning facilities.
“As the school is significantly relevant for the town and surrounding area, the school board has decided that there is a need to construct the new building conducive for the students,” he said.
The existing Saint Joseph school’s two-storey building is a semi-permanent building which is constructed partially using reinforced concrete for the ground floor level, and timber for the first floor level.
“The existing school, which has classes up to Form 5, accommodates 970 students and the number of students is increasing each year. Currently, the school block building components have undergone various stages of deterioration.
“Due to the ageing timber on the first floor level, most of the timber structure has been attacked by termites over the years. Despite this, the learning and teaching process continues and the Saint Joseph’s students diligently attend school to gain knowledge,” said Anthony, who is a former State Public Work Department (PWD) Director.
The Saint Joseph’s Building Committee is making every effort to raise fund to meet the amount still required, he said, while also appealing to the State Government for urgent assistance so that the project can be completed on time.
“Apart from various fund-raising activities, there were many generous people especially the alumni of Saint Joseph’s school and companies that contributed to the school in forms of cash and materials.
To name a few are City Top Enterprise and Brilliant Trading & Supplies which donated roofing sheets and G.I.C Channel respectively.
“Various fund-raising activities had also been conducted. The school also offered to all the alumni and generous people out there, the 16 new classrooms to be sponsored with a minimum amount of RM10,000 each,” he said.
Anthony said after more than six decades, the school had produced many successful and professional individuals, adding many of them made the school proud by their great achievements obtained at various level.
“Despite the condition of the school, students from various places request to learn in this school. People look up to the school as it never fails to shine and perform great results in all aspects.
“Therefore, it is high time for the students to have a comfortable and conducive premises to study and continue to produce future leaders and great people.
“We pledge to all the alumni to come forward and donate generously so to help us make our dream school a reality. We will never stop to reach out for help as we are aware that without this school we will not be what we are now.
“We are always very grateful and thankful for the support, great help and generous contribution from the government and other kind contributor,” he said.
To donate can bank-in into Public Bank account no: 319 693 6728 under the name RTDKK-SMK ST Joseph School Building Fund.
The school has existed since 1953. Reverend Father Klijin, a Mill Hill Missionary Priest, started the first Form 1 Class with some 17 students in a room under his residence at the present site of the school. He was the first Principal for Saint Joseph School (SJS).