KUALA NERUS: A total of 524 additional classroom projects worth RM668mil are underway nationwide for the Year One intake in the 2027 session, says Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan.
Of these, he said 517 have been approved with Letters of Acceptance (LOAs), with three completed so far.
“The projects use modular methods and the Industrialised Building System (IBS),” he said after the handover of the first project completed ahead of schedule yesterday.
The handover, from the Terengganu Public Works Department (JKR) to the Education Ministry, was officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek at SMK Tok Jembal, Bernama reported.
Ahmad said the projects cover 459 schools and 1,780 classrooms, comprising 1,255 standard and 525 for the Special Education Integration Programme.
He said Selangor topped the list with 143 projects, all of which have been approved. Kedah followed with 93 (92 approved), while Johor recorded 47 (45 approved).
“Terengganu has 45 projects and Penang 30, all with LOAs.
“Perak follows with 22, 18 of which have received LOAs,” he added.
He said the projects in Pahang (50), Melaka (69), Kelantan (10), Perlis (eight), Labuan (three), Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan (two each) have all been granted LOAs.
Meanwhile, Ahmad also said a total of 14 education-related projects, worth RM34mil, in Terengganu have been completed ahead of time.
He said that the use of modular methods and IBS were among the main factors that contributed to the project being completed earlier.
Additionally, he said it was also due to the efficiency of JKR officers at all levels while a third factor was the selection of contractors with a good track record.
In a statement, JKR said the success of completing the project early allows the facilities and learning spaces to be used immediately by the school, thereby optimising the smoothness of the teaching and learning process.
The statement also noted that overall, the Terengganu JKR is currently overseeing 111 Education Ministry’s projects worth RM302mil, which include the construction of covered open-sided multi-purpose halls under the 12th and 13th Malaysia plans, the programme to address high-density school issues, and the integrated maintenance of existing infrastructure.
The scope also includes the construction of additional classrooms through the Quick Win Cakna Madani Initiative, which uses modular and IBS methods as a strategic preparation for the entry of Year One students for the 2027 school session.
According to the statement, from January 2025 to August 2026, the Terengganu JKR had completed 37 projects worth RM85mil, with a cumulative early completion record of 2,697 days, meaning each project was completed on an average of 72 days ahead of schedule.
The statement said the achievement is seen as important in supporting the government’s target to realise the single-session school policy by 2030, particularly through the provision of sufficient and quality educational infrastructure.
