Over 8,000 schools to finish upgrading toilets by year's end

GEORGE TOWN: Over 8,000 schools which received a total of RM578mil in government allocations are expected to complete the repair and upgrading of their toilets by the end of this year.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said most of the schools had completed the works to date.

"A total of RM578.02mil has been allocated to 8,020 schools fully aided by the government.

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"These schools will each get RM70,000 while other institutions under the Education Ministry, such as colleges, will each get RM200,000,” said Lim.

"Most of the projects have been completed and those ongoing are expected to be completed by year-end," she told reporters on Wednesday (Nov 8).

Lim said 1,921 schools that are partially aided by the government and did not receive the allocation will get it later.

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"Partially-aided schools are not included (on the list of recipients of RM70,000 aid) and I hope they will receive the same amount," she added.

Lim said the allocation from the Finance Ministry to fix school toilets announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a first.

"This is the first time such an allocation has been given. It is one-time only and will not be given yearly. We hope schools will maintain their toilets after the upgrading works," she said.

On June 3, Anwar raised the issue of dirty school toilets, which he described as a never-ending problem.

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He said he was aware of the conditions of school toilets, which were mostly damaged and dirty, and yet these basic facilities remained neglected.

He then instructed Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to check on them.

The Prime Minister, when tabling Budget 2024 on Oct 13, said toilet repair projects in over 8,000 schools would be almost completed by this year.