Maszlee urged to see for himself conditions of schools in rural Sarawak

KUCHING: Many netizens are requesting Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to come and see for himself the condition of schools in rural and interior Sarawak following a fire at SK Batu Bungan in Mulu on Wednesday morning, which claimed the life of a young teacher.

They made the requests through the minister’s Facebook page, after he posted a condolence message for the late Catherine Janet Tiwi, the 25-year- old teacher who perished in that fire.

“Please pay a visit to schools in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak. All those reforms in education come in second when the basic needs like safety, water and shelter aren’t met,” said one FB user with the account name Jia Yiing Ho in response to Maszlee’s posting.

Another FB user Nazibah Fauzi said

Please pay a visit to schools in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak. All those reforms in education come in second when the basic needs like safety, water and shelter aren’t met.

the minister should go to schools in rural and interior Sarawak to see the schools, and the everyday life endured by the teachers and students.

Stating that she had been there herself two years ago, she said Maszlee must see the condition of the schools and teachers quarters which are in dilapidated state.

Izzy Asrin Maskin said there’s no use for the Education Ministry to talk about 21st Century learning if the school infrastructure is still stuck in the 1980s.

“Many schools still depend on generator sets for electricity, without Internet line and many other disadvantages faced by the teachers,” wrote Izzy.

Another FB user Nicholas Andrew even offered to be the tour guide for Maszlee if he were to visit schools in Selangau.

“Many of these schools are in dilapidated condition. The wires are old, and short circuit can happen any time. I hope the ministry can come up with a budget in 2019 to assist dilapidated schools in the rural and interior Sarawak,” he wrote.

Maszlee had earlier on Wednesday evening posted his condolences to the family of the late Catherine, and expressed his deepest sadness over the tragedy in SK Batu Bungan.

“The Education Ministry will render appropriate assistance to those affected,” he wrote.

Jia Yiing Ho