Unions welcome RM180.54 mlnallocation for repair of schools
SIBU: The approval of RM180.54 million- allocation for maintenance and repairs of schools and other related works augurs well with teacher unions in the state.
They have called for priority to be given to Sarawak since a big number of schools are in urgent need of repair and maintenance.
Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) for one called for speedy disbursement of the fund to improve those buildings declared dilapidated and unsafe.
“STU thanks the Ministry of Finance for the allocation as this has been a long-standing issue.
“Parents and teachers cannot wait any longer for the transformation to take place, particularly for buildings put up on ‘gotong-royong’ basis.
“Upgrading of facilities and infrastructure, maintenance and repairs is a necessity,” STU president Jisin Nyud said yesterday.
He was commenting on Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan’s statement that the Ministry of Finance had approved the allocation for this year.
Kamalanathan said this when replying to a question from Khoo Soo Seang ( BN-Tebrau) in parliament.
Jisin hoped to see that the repairs, maintenance and rebuilding were not only for the physical condition (of the school) but also for those buildings that were already deteriorating.
Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union ( KGBS) too welcomed Kamalanathan’s announcement.
“We hope the allocation would be given to those schools in pressing need, and that priority be given to Sarawak as there are many schools needing physical improvement.
“It is our fervent hope that the allocation would be disbursed to those schools,” its president Ahmad Malie said.