Upgrading, rebuilding works of dilapidated schools in S’wak progressing smoothly

KUCHING: The upgrading and rebuilding works of dilapidated schools in the state is progressing smoothly, said Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong.

Manyin said that a total of 1,020 dilapidated schools have been identified for upgrading and rebuilding in the state using the funds from the RM1 billion contra deal agreed between the state and federal governments.

“Of that amount (RM1 billion), we have distributed RM700 million for the first and second phases which we are implementing. I don’t have the the number of schools involved for the first and second on hand, but everything is running smoothly,” he said when met after handing over of minor rural project (MRP) grant cheques for the Opar state constituency at the Kampung Bitokan 1 Hall here yesterday.

Manyin added that the remaining RM300 million has yet to be distributed pending instructions from the Ministry of Finance.

“Once the letter is received from Kuala Lumpur, the third phase of the project will commence.”

On the postponement of the opening of face-to-face school sessions involving the Covid-19 red zones, Manyin said it was made on the advice of the Sarawak State Health Department.

“We do not make decisions hastily but on the advice of the Health Ministry. The postponement of the school session reopening only involved about 200 schools while the rest reopened as scheduled,” he said.