School facing termite woes
Long wait for repairs at institution for special needs kids
JOHOR BARU: One of the state’s oldest special schools, SK Pendidikan Khas Princess Elizabeth, is in dire need of repairs as some of its buildings have been infested by termites.
The affected areas include the school’s assembly hall, several classrooms, the surau and the canteen.
The ceilings and beams in the school, which was built in 1953, have also been damaged by termites.
State Education, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, who visited the school yesterday, said the Education Ministry had been alerted.
“We are awaiting a report from the ministry. The school building is 66 years old.
“The Public Works Department issued a notice in July last year to cordon off the hall as heavy rain and termite infestation had caused multiple holes in the roof,” he added.
According to Aminolhuda, the school had been waiting for almost a year for construction work to start.
“The pupils are children with special needs and disabilities.
“We need to ensure that all the facilities are in good order for their safety and well-being,” he said, adding that the school had 53 pupils and 31 teachers.
School principal Mohd Dini Karim said all 10 buildings in the school required immediate restoration work.
“We previously conducted pest control, but the infestation is really bad.
“Now, we cannot hold any gathering or breaking of fast sessions with parents at the hall due to its condition,” he said.
Mohd Dini said the best option would be to move the pupils to a new school.
He added that the school received an annual allocation for restoration works, but the sum was not sufficient.