SERIAN: Sarawak’s plans for centralised schools cannot yet be implemented as most parents oppose the idea, as according Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said low enrolment schools (SKM) could not be decommissioned as long as parents did not agree with the proposal.
“If we cannot close SKM, then we cannot build centralised schools. Otherwise, they will end up becoming SKM too.
“Until we can get the consent of parents to send their children to centralised schools, we cannot implement it yet,” he said during a working visit to Serian and Sri Aman Divisions yesterday.
On his working visit to three schools in Serian and Sri Aman, Sagah said several issues faced by the schools were identified.
According to him, the dilapidated school redevelopment project for SK Lebur Remun in Serian, which was supposed to be completed in December 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“However, it is expected to be completed by end of August this year. Physically, it is in a satisfactory condition and I believe it can be completed on the set date.
“For SK Aping in Sri Aman and SK Daha in Tebedu, they involve electrical connections to the school buildings as well as repairs on some buildings.
“But in SK Aping, it also involves water supply too,” he said.
Sagah explained that the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) was not ready to implement the water connection work as the school planned to relocate to a new site.
Meanwhile in SK Daha, Sagah said there were many buildings in poor conditions, especially the teachers’ quarters.
“So, I advised the school management to submit an application to the State Education Department through the Serian District Education Office for further action,” he added.
For the record, the Sarawak government has embarked on school relocation and rebuilding programmes for schools in rural areas during the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
Sagah, in his ministerial winding up speech, said a total of 263 schools had been identified as SKM by the State Education Department and could be merged into 49 centralised schools.
