Dilapidated schools: Lack of funds causing upgrade delays, says PAC

KUALA LUMPUR: Some dilapidated school buildings have remained unrepaired for as long as 12 years as the Education Ministry lacked funding, says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said that the ministry had to prioritise other schools that were more in need, leading to the delays.

"Through the proceedings held (with the Education Ministry), PAC found out that there were school buildings that have been identified and recommended as unfit by the Works Department (JKR), however, no action has been taken.

"For example, there was a building that has been left unrepaired for 12 years despite having been recommended (for upgrades)," she told reporters at the Parliament media centre on Thursday (March 21).

"The PAC was informed that this was due to the lack of funds which forced the ministry to choose other schools first depending on the situation and critical levels," she added.

The PAC had put forward four recommendations for the ministry to achieve and report to the committee within two months time.

Mas Ermieyati said while the deadline was not an ultimatum, it was needed to measure whether the ministry had complied with the recommendations and for further action from the PAC.

She added that during the proceedings held with the ministry on Jan 17, it was found that there were a total of 267 project applications by dilapidated schools that were proposed to the Economy Ministry and 249 were approved.

"The establishment of a Special Task Force on Public Sector Reform and monitoring by the Education Ministry were initiated to ensure ongoing projects are not delayed.

"For applications that have yet to be presented to or approved by the Economy Ministry, the Education Ministry has made sure maintenance efforts were taken to keep the building safe for students," the Masjid Tanah MP added.

According to the Auditor-General’s Report, only 411 (27.3%) out of 1,505 dilapidated schools have submitted upgrading applications with 398 of them having been approved.

However, only 123 projects had been completed.