KOTA KINABALU: Pupils who were forced to study under tents along the corridors of a mosque in Beluran, are now commencing classes online.
Sabah Education Department director Datuk Raisin Saidin said that this is a temporary measure while waiting for the transfer of these children to SK Pekan Beluran about 12km away, and for arrangements of transport for them to be settled.
He said as many of these students lived quite far from SK Pekan Beluran, the department and school authorities had to prepare transportation for them pending the repair and upgrading of SK Balaban Jaya.
“For your information, SK Balaban Jaya was declared unsafe by the Works Department on Jan 16, and pupils started online classes on Jan 19, and these classes operate at the Kg Balaban Jaya mosque as well as Kg Balaban Jaya hall with the consent of parents on Jan 27,” he said.
However following the latest directive from the Education Ministry on April 11, these pupils will be transferred to SK Pekan Beluran but in the meantime, they need to continue their classes via online, said Raisin.
This matter was highlighted by Parti Warisan’s Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook on April 10.
It was reported that the problem arose after parts of the school’s infrastructure were damaged by ground movement and slope instability, rendering the environment unsafe.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed immediate action to address dilapidated infrastructure at SK Balaban Jaya, which has forced pupils to attend classes in unsuitable conditions.
On Monday, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said that a total of RM52mil has been approved in 2025 under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for the reconstruction of SK Balaban Jaya, with tenders to be opened up next month and implementation expedited.
He said the approval, under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12MP, is part of the government’s long-term planning to ensure safe and quality access to education for pupils in the area.
He said the project involves the construction of six classrooms, an administration block, special rooms, four units of teachers’ quarters, as well as other supporting facilities and is currently in the pre-construction phase, with the Public Works Department having carried out soil investigations.
