25 schools in Sandakan have no access to clean water supply

KOTA KINABALU: About 25 schools in Sandakan, including 16 located on islands off the district, currently have no access to clean water supply.

Sandakan district education officer Dr Dalmansa Tahil in revealing this, said the students and teaching administration have been relying on rainwater which they harvested in tanks for their daily consumption.

However, efforts are being made to apply with the State Education Department for installation of water pipes to these 25 schools, he assured.

“At present, there are no pipelines to distribute treated water supply to these school premises.

“This includes SK Bambangan, the school I visited today (Wednesday), ” Dalmansa said in a statement to the media after his visit to monitor the reopening of Year 5 and Year 6 classes at that particular primary school.

He added that allocation to provide water drums for SK Bambangan had been approved, and are only waiting for delivery.

The school has encouraged students to bring a bottle of water for washing hands. At the same time, a small water drum has been stationed outside each classroom in view of the current call for proper hygiene due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“On a larger scale, we will be forwarding an application to the Sabah Education Department for the installation of water pipes to these 25 schools, ” he added.