BETONG: There are plans to build one central school in the Bukit Saban constituency.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the matter would be discussed with the State Education Department.
“I am of the view that we should build a central school that is equipped with facilities and enough number of teachers so that the quality of education in rural areas is the same as those in the urban areas,” he said to reporters after witnessing the handing over of documents on the completion of SK Nanga Gayau held at the school today.
The new RM6.7 million SK Nanga Gayau building comprises classrooms, teachers’ quarters, office and others.
He said two schools in his constituency, namely, SK Spaoh and SK Paku Central will also be improved.
Uggah then assured that the upgrading of dilapidated schools remained the state government’s top priority.
“This is the area that we want to develop because that is also part of the poverty eradication.
“We are now working hard for Sarawak in order to achieve the state’s aspiration as outlined in the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to ensure high income among the population here. This means, we have to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get education,” he stressed.
Asked to comment on the revised Budget 2023, he said he was hoping for more in terms of development allocation.
“I’ve noticed that our roads need to be better connected to the settlement to make sure Sarawak are fully connected to our rural communities.
“Given the Pan Borneo Highway where some part of it is still under construction and also the schools and clinics that need to be improved, at the moment, we take what is given.
“From there, the state government will then discuss with the federal government how to increase the allocation and to focus on certain areas,” he added.
He further stressed that among the focus was poverty eradication as it was vital for all layers of communities to be involved in contributing to be a high income state.
“We don’t want one section of the community to remain poor.. where the urban group are more prosperous while the rural group find themselves struggling,” he said.
