30 new schools to be built this year – minister

KUALA TERENGGANU: Some 30 new schools will be built nationwide this year, with an allocation of RM1.4 billion, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said the allocation was also for the construction of additional buildings and new classrooms to meet the growing number of student population.

"The first new school project for this year involves the construction of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Serada, at a cost of RM28.3 million,” he told a press conference after officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of a new building for the school at Banggol Chempedak yesterday.

Also present were State Education, Science, Technology and Transformation Committee chairman A Latiff Awang, Education Ministry deputy director-general Dr Zainal Alam Hassan, deputy secretary-general (Education Development) Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, Terengganu Education director Shafruddin Ali Hussin and Kuala Terengganu district officer Azmi Razik. Mahdzir who is also Padang Terap Member of Parliament said with the construction of SMK Serada it would help ease surrounding residents as they no longer have to send their children to SMK Padang Midin, SMK Seri Nilam and SMK Tun Telanai which were further.

"The three schools have reached maximum capacity and there is a need for a new school here,” he said adding that SMK Serada was expected to accommodate 800 students and the first intake would be in 2020.