Federal loan to fund mergers
Schools with low enrolment to close in implementation of consolidation exercise
Once the RM1 billion was approved, I want to continue with the merger of SKM schools
SERIAN: The move to merge schools with low enrolment in Sarawak will be implemented through the RM1 billion fund allocated for repairs of dilapidated schools.
Educat ion , S cienc e and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said there are 651 schools with low enrolment, or Sekolah Kurang Murid (SKM), in Sarawak, all of which are primary schools with pupil population of less than 150.
He pointed out many such schools in Sarawak’s rural and interior areas are in dilapidated condition and lacking in facilities.
“Due to the less than conducive environment, many of the pupils perform poorly and this has led to Sarawak lying low in the national rankings of public examinations.
“That is why once the RM1 billion was approved, I want to continue with the merger of SKM schools. This means building new facilities at the centralised school for better learning environment and with the optimum pupil population, the school can have specialist teachers posted there,” he said at a meet-the- people session at Kampung Taee yesterday.
Manyin was referring to the RM1 billion loan offered by the Sarawak government to the federal government for the repairing of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee
Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister
Malik had agreed for the federal government to accept the loan, which would be repaid through contra from the existing loan owed by the Sarawak government to the federal government.
Manyin said SK St John Taee has been identified to be one of the centralised schools, but nearby schools with low number of pupils have to be closed for the merger.
“The idea is to build another block and more facilities at SK St John Taee, since it will accept pupils from other schools. But this will require some schools to be closed, and we need to get them (those affected) to agree,” he said.
During the dialogue which was held at the St John Church parish hall, Manyin also declared open the newly upgraded hall and the upgraded road in the village.
Manyin who is also Tebedu assemblyman had earlier joined the village folks for Sunday Mass at the church.
The parish hall was recently upgraded at a cost of RM50,000 while the upgrading of the road at Kajuh Tong cost RM200,000. The village also received RM100,000 for the St John Church extension.
Al l thes e projec t s were funded from Manyin’s rural transformation programme (RTP) allocation. The church committee was also told by Manyin to estimate the cost of improving the parish hall ceiling.
Also present at the function were political secretary to the chief minister Dr Simon Sinang Bada, Serian District Officer Lim Hock Meng, Pemanca Agim Katot and village chief Jacques Kantuh.
The function also saw the presentation of 66 land titles to folks of Kampung Taee following the completion of NCR land documentation by Dayak Bidayuh National Association ( DBNA).