KL okays renovation of 30 S’wak schools

LET’S READ SUARA SARAWAK/ NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE E-PAPER FOR FREE AS EARLY AS 2 AM EVERY DAY. CLICK LINK

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (centre front) in group photo with students of SMK Rosli Dhoby and other officials during his visit to the Sibu school yestereday.

SIBU: The Federal Government through its 11^th Malaysia Plan (RMK11) has approved 30 school reconstruction projects to be implemented in Sarawak to address the issue of dilapidated schools in the state.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the total number of dilapidated schools in Sarawak is 1454, of which 1020 schools are in three categories, namely dilapidated school category 3 (415 schools), dilapidated school category 2 (210 schools) and dilapidated school category 1 (395 schools).

“At the same time, 183 schools have been approved in the 2^nd Rolling Plan in the RMK11 to be implemented through the Industrialised Building System (IBS) method with an allocation of RM366 million.”

“Throughout 2016 and 2017, 50 dilapidated schools were and are currently being built by the Ministry of Education (MOE) through IBS method at a cost of RM153.3 million. Out of 50 schools, 23 schools have been completed, while 27 schools are under construction, including four schools built by JKR,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

He said this at a press conference held at Sibu Airport after his working visit to schools in Sibu yesterday.

Zahid began his working visit by visiting SMK Rosli Dhoby and then SK Ulu Sungai Salim, Sibu.

He arrived at the SMK Rosli Dhoby about 9.45am, accompanied by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and state’s Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong as well as Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee.

Zahid who arrived here on Wednesday night, also chaired a coordination meeting on the reconstruction of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.

According to him, Sarawak State government has made the development of dilapidated schools as a priority and focus included a presentation to discuss the issue of dilapidated schools in the state cabinet ministers’ meeting on 24^th August to detail proactive actions to be taken to resolve the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.

See also ‘Pivot into new opportunities’

“Pertaining to utilities issues such as water and electric supply, a total of 447 schools have yet to have water supply. In addition, 375 schools have yet to enjoy electricity supply throughout Sarawak. It is proposed that 108 schools close to the public grid (less than 10km) are connected with public grid.”