IN 2016, the number of dilapidated schools in Sarawak was 1,020, with nearly half suffering 75 per cent structural damage.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said these school buildings were more than 50 years old and most were wood-based and had major structural damage.
“We categorised these dilapidated schools as DS3,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech during the DUN sitting on Tuesday (May 24).
He said another 210 dilapidated schools were categorised as DS2, which refers to 50 per cent dilapidation, 40 to 50- year-old buildings that were mostly wood-based with more physical damage that required repairs and maintenance.
“395 dilapidated schools were categorised as DS1 (25 per cent dilapidation), 30 to 40 years old and partially wood-based buildings with minimal damage that only required maintenance.”
He said to date, a total of 455 dilapidated schools in the three categories had been covered under various school repair, rebuild or relocation projects.
Sagah said out of the number, 245 projects had been completed while another 565 dilapidated schools were still under consideration for future development.
In terms of funding, he said since 2016, the federal government, through the Education Ministry, had allocated about RM1.7bil for 242 school development projects.
“On the other hand, the Sarawak government provided about RM1.3bil for 213 school development projects, namely RM1 Billion Advance Payment to Federal Government, Projek Rakyat (RM140mil) and RM160mil upgrading of schools under Regional Corridor Development Authority.”
He informed that due to the large number of dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak and funding constraints, “we have to prioritise the development of the dilapidated schools.”
“Thus, I would like to urge all members of the August House to be patient in our quest to resolve the issue of dilapidated schools,” added Sagah.
