By Adrian Lim
LAWAS, Feb 22: The state government is looking into rebuilding and upgrading dilapidated schools in the Lawas District.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the rebuilding and upgrading work of certain numbers of dilapidated schools in Lawas will be managed by Northern Region Development Authority (NRDA).
“The request to rebuild and upgrade dilapidated schools is not from the federal government but from the NRDA. There are repair works for 56 schools which will be tendered out.
“Now, we are still deliberating with the federal government on the rebuilding and upgrading works of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
“Last time, the federal government promised that they will rebuild and upgrade the dilapidated schools if we provide payment for our contra loans.
“We have provided two tranches of payment and hoped that they will repair 37 dilapidated schools.
“But until today, not even one is completed,” he said during the launching of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Lawas zone at Lawas Public Court here.
Abang Johari stated that there will be approximately 50 dilapidated schools in Lawas which need to be rebuilt and the contracts will be tendered out soon by NRDA.
He explained that the state government had the financial resources to rebuild and repair dilapidated schools because of its prudent financial management.
Abang Johari also disclosed that the state government had utilised RM11 million to provide training for teachers in three months’ time to enable them to teach students Mathematics and Science subjects in English.
In contrast, he noted the Ministry of Education was still weighing up the policy to teach Mathematics and Science in English and was being re-evaluated due to lack of funds. —DayakDaily
