SK Serabak, SK Durin Kiba among rural schools in Sarawak with better toilets
KUCHING: SK Serabak and SK Durin Kiba are among two rural schools in Sarawak that benefitted from the Education Ministry’s Toilet Maintenance project, an initiative that started in August last year.
Located about 65km from Kuching City, SK Serabak in Bau District, which is in the southern part of the state and close to the Malaysia-Indonesia border, is indeed far from the hustle and bustle of city life, with its calm and comfortable natural atmosphere.
Before the ministry’s toilet maintenance initiative started, complaints about broken water taps, toilets that could not be flushed, and toilet doors that could not be closed, were considered ‘normal’ for the school’s 82 students.
However, the situation changed last November after the repair works on the toilet facilities at the school was completed, and it changed the students’ perception of a toilet.
“A total of eight toilet units were repaired, comprising three toilet units each for use by the girls and the boys, while the remaining two toilet units are for the preschoolers.
According to the SK Serabak headmistress Phiong Kuik Fa, the school used to only have squat toilets that were only suitable for the schoolchildren to use.
Now with better toilets, she noticed that there was a change in her pupils’ attitude.
“The change is obvious and noticeable,” she said, adding that she was satisfied with the work of the contractor tasked with the improvement project.
“They (contractors) were quick to carry out the works. All squat toilets have been converted to sitting toilets with proper equipment such as bidets, mirrors, well-functioning faucets, and for our pre-school students, we requested smaller size toilet bowls,” she told Bernama.
Narrating her students’ reaction after getting better toilet facilities, Phiong said she once followed a group of her students quietly from behind when they went to the toilet.
“I asked them why they went to the toilet en masse, as fast as lightning, and they replied spontaneously with a big smile: ‘Our toilet is beautiful teacher’,” she said.
A teacher at the school, Magdelina Joseph Nyadi, recalled the day when an announcement was made during the school assembly that the toilets were ready for use.
“After the assembly, all the students rushed to the toilet,” she laughed.
Magdelina said with the students still excited to use the upgraded facilities, the school continuously reminded them of the need to be appreciative of it.
As for SK Ulu Durin Kiba, about 42km from Sibu in central Sarawak, the school’s new toilet project reached completion in November last year.
Its headmaster Gerard Bugin Legak, in thanking the government for introducing the initiative, said the new school toilet has eight cubicles.
“The old toilet had 10 cubicles each with a floor area of 1.2192 metres by 0.9144 metres, compared to eight cubicles we have now with a floor area of 2.4384 metres by 0.9144 meters.
“So, the toilet cubicles are spacious and comfortable to use,” he said.
According to him, the school toilet now has two cubicles with sitting toilets, one each for the male and female staff at the school; two cubicles with smallsized sitting toilets, one each for the boys and the girls; and two cubicles with squat toilets, one each for the boys and the girls.
“Each cubicle is equipped with a spray bidet, a small window to allow air circulation and a smallsized sitting toilet bowl to cater for primary school students,” he said, adding that the school toilets also have two sinks with wall mirrors.
SK Serabak senior assistant (internal curriculum) Unjung Paong said the students were always reminded to appreciate the facilities, and to keep them clean without relying solely on the school cleaners. — Bernama