In 2016, the total number of dilapidated schools in Sarawak was 1,020, where nearly half were 75 per cent dilapidation.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said these school buildings were more than 50 years old and mostly all wood-based and had major structural damage.
“We categorised these dilapidated schools as category DS3,” he said this when delivering his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
He said another 210 dilapidated schools were categorised as DS2, which refers to 50 per cent dilapidation, 40 to 50 years old buildings which are mostly wood-based with more physical damage that require repairs and maintenance.
Meanwhile, 395 dilapidated schools have been categorised as DS1, which were 25 per cent dilapidation, 30 to 40 years old and partially wood-based buildings with minimal damage that only require maintenance.
To date, a total of 455 dilapidated schools in those three categories have been covered under various school repair, rebuild or relocation projects.
Sagah said out of these, 245 projects have been completed while another 565 dilapidated schools were still under consideration for future development.
In terms of funding for those projects, since 2016, the Federal Government, through Education Ministry, has allocated about RM1.7 billion for 242 school development projects.
On the other hand, the Sarawak Government has provided about RM1.3 billion for 213 schools development projects, namely RM1 Billion Advance Payment to Federal Government, Projek Rakyat (RM140 million) and RM160 million upgrading of schools under Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA).
“I would like to inform this August house that due to the large numbers of dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak and funding constraint, we have to prioritise the development of the dilapidated schools.
“Thus, I would like to urge all the members of this august house to be patient in our quest to resolve the issue of dilapidated schools,” he said.
