KUCHING: Approximately 600 of the 1,200 dilapidated schools identified in Sarawak have undergone redevelopment.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the remaining dilapidated schools are at various stages of implementation, with some under construction while others have yet to be tendered.
According to him, dilapidated schools are classified under different categories, with the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) using a scale of one to seven.
“At present, the redevelopment of dilapidated schools has yet to reach the halfway mark, with some still under construction while others have yet to be tendered,” he said when met by reporters after the opening ceremony of Sarawak Informal Education (IFE) Recognition – Community Skills and Productivity at Menara LCDA here on Monday.
He added that the Sarawak Government had previously allocated RM1 billion to address the issue of dilapidated schools, but implementation takes time due to the construction period involved and the capacity of contractors in the state.
According to him, the allocation is being fully utilised, although the pace of implementation also depends on the number of available contractors and their willingness to take up the projects.
Meanwhile, Dato Sri Roland Sagah hopes Budget 2027, to be tabled by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 9 October, will provide more funding for the redevelopment of dilapidated schools as well as the construction of new schools requested by Sarawak.
"We want to see more allocations for the reconstruction of dilapidated schools including for the new schools that we have applied for as well.
"So, we'll see what happens because Budget 2027 has not been tabled, but we hope for the best," he said. -UKASnews
Prepared By: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Nerissa Sia
