School needs new building to replace termite-infested block

MIRI: Another termite-infested block of the 55-year- old Sekolah Kebangsaan ( SK) Sayed Othman here needs to be replaced.

The block was cordoned off by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health ( DOSH) due to termite infestation about two weeks ago.

On July 28, 2016, a Primary 1 pupil, Nur Sheera Amyliana Iskandar, had her left leg stuck when it went through the rotten floorboard of her classroom.

Through the effort of the teachers, parent- teacher association and the authority, the old wooden block was demolished and replaced by a new block which was ready for use on June 12 this year.

Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, who was at the school yesterday to check on the new block and the termite infested block, said the latter block posed a danger to the pupils.

“When the secretary general of the Education Ministry ( Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad) was here more than a month ago for the handover of the new block, he was impressed with the new block and we also brought him to this block as well and we could see the termites infesting the block.

“The school has written a letter regarding this to the Education Ministry and also Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, and I will do the follow- up,” he said.

When asked whether the termite-infested block would be demolished, Ting said it all depended on DOSH.

“But looking at the condition of the block, it is likely to be replaced just like the previous block because eventually it might cost even more if it were to be continuously repaired,” he pointed out.

The block that was cordoned off housed eight classrooms

When the secretary general of the Education Ministry (Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad) was here more than a month ago for the handover of the new block, he was impressed with the new block and we also brought him to this block as well and we could see the termites infesting the block.

and office.

Currently the students are placed in other classrooms and the science lab.

Being one of the oldest schools in Miri, much of its facilities need to be looked at for the sake of the students’ safety. the administration

Datuk Sebastian Ting, Piasau assemblyman

The ceiling of the block that is infested by termites.

Ting (second left) looking at the letter that was sent by the school to the ministry. At second right is the school’s headmaster Juhaili Junaidi.