More than 1,000 schools still in dilapidated category

Datuk Seri Michael Manyin

KUCHING: The number of dilapidated schools in Sarawak remains at 1,020 although 116 schools will be rectified by this year, the state assembly heard.

Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said contracts for 66 schools under the Education Ministry and 50 schools under the state Public Works Department were awarded on Jan 29 and Feb 21, respectively, this year.

To date, 67 schools have been completed while the remaining 49 schools will be completed by the end of the year.

“However, none of the completed schools have been handed over to the state Education Department together with the certificate of practical completion.

“That is why our statistics for dilapidated schools remains at 1,020,” Manyin said in his winding-up speech yesterday.

He was responding to Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) who had questioned last week why the number of dilapidated schools had not decreased although work had been done to address a number of them.

Manyin also clarified that most of the projects involved upgrading and partial replacement, which improved the schools’ level of dilapidation from Category 3 to Category 2 or 1.

“But the overall status of the schools is still categorised as dilapidated,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to honour the RM1bil special allocation approved by the previous administration for dilapidated schools in Sarawak.

He also said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had written to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Aug 1 on the state’s offer to lend RM1bil to the Federal Government to speed up the rebuilding of dilapidated schools.

However, the state had not received a reply yet, said Manyin.