Cost of repair for storm-damaged SMK Munshi Abdullah reaches RM3mil

MELAKA: The cost to repair more than six blocks of buildings at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Munshi Abdullah here, which suffered severe damage including the roof being blown off during a thunderstorm last Saturday, is expected to reach RM3mil.

Chief Minister Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh said he was informed by the state Public Works Department (JKR) that the repair works would take approximately six months, and the school is taking steps to reschedule their teaching and learning sessions, which will affect over 2,000 students.

He said being a school with the highest number of students in the state, the state government will ensure that the process of repairing the damaged buildings at SMK Munshi Abdullah will go smoothly.

"So far, the Education Ministry has channelled an immediate allocation of RM100,000 to the school for initial repair works by the appointed contractor.

"At the state government level, we will provide support to the teachers and students of the school and assess the form of assistance that can be given to them to ensure that the schooling session can proceed smoothly,” he told reporters after visiting the school on Monday (Oct 30).

Meanwhile, state Education, Higher Education and Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman who was also present during the visit, said the repair works for the damaged buildings have commenced on Monday by contractors appointed by the Education Ministry, while cleaning works at the storm-damaged structures was carried out with the assistance of volunteers from the state Education Department.

"For now, face-to-face learning sessions are as usual for those in Form Four and Form Five, while for students in Form One to Four, face-to-face learning sessions will be conducted on a rotational basis, in addition to Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) sessions,” he said.

On Saturday, the media reported that several school blocks of the school suffered damage after their roofs were blown away during a thunderstorm.

Reported damage included eight classrooms, one teacher's room, a laboratory, and offices located in Block C of the school. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.- Bernama