270 schools being built in Sabah and Sarawak
THE Education Ministry is currently implementing 270 primary and secondary school development projects in Sabah and Sarawak, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Education Deputy Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said 139 of these projects were in Sabah and the rest in Sarawak, and included constructing new schools, classrooms, computer laboratories, fields, dining halls, toilets and teachers’ quarters.
“These projects involved an allocation of RM2.3 billion for the schools in Sabah and RM2.18 billion for Sarawak,” he said when replying to a question from Anyi Ngau (BN-Baram) during the questionand-answer session yesterday.
Anyi wanted to know the amount allocated by the ministry to upgrade schools in both the states.
Chong said since 2012, schools and students in these states were given 25 types of aid.
He said in 2012, it was RM3.44 billion, 2013 - RM3.56 billion, 2014 - RM3.49 billion, 2015 - RM3.73 billion and this year, it was RM2.97 billion.
Meanwhile, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry said it will continue to prioritise research on nanotechnology to turn the sector into the nation’s new growth engine.
Under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), nanotechnology research will focus on the development of applications in the energy sector and environment, medical and healthcare, electronics and systems and food and agriculture.
“Apart from R&D on nano products that can be commercialised, the ministry is also committed to responsible development of nanotechnology.
“Under the provisions of 11MP, the ministry has implemented the Safety Materials and Nano Products Risk Benchmark.”
The ministry said this in a written reply to a question from Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) who wanted to know the status of studies and research on nanotechnology in Parliament, here yesterday.
It added the evaluation process would involve testing to determine the safety of the products to the public and their impact on the environment.
The health sector and the defence sector are among the sectors which will greatly benefit from research and development.