The Federal government has allocated RM1 billion in the 2018 Budget to address the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak for 2018 and 2019.
Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research YB Datuk Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said that the department has identified 205 schools to be included in the RMK-11 using the normal allocation while the remaining 110 schools will be implemented through the special fund as announced by the Prime Minister during the National 2018 Budget.
In Sarawak, 1020 schools are considered dilapidated while 415 schools that are considered critically dilapidated.
In respond to Batu Lintang assemblyman YB See Chee How during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on November 10th, YB Datuk Sri Michael Manyin said that the ministry is now in the process of identifying the schools that are considered as priorities and suggested centralising the schools as there are numerous small schools (sekolah kurang murid or S.K.M) with less than 150 students in the State.
Adding that they already have lab session with all the ADUNs and has received positive response, but are yet to have the parents agree with the plan.
“So, what we are going to do is to give every rural constituency one centralised school and that again is depending on the response of the parents,” said YB Datuk Sri Michael Manyin.
“If the parents do agree, then we will start building the centralised school as early as next year or early next year and that will become a model and those who disagree, we will wait and let them see the model,” he added.
