KUCHING, July 15: Finally, the upgrading of dilapidated facilities at SK Tanjung Latap and SK Kampung Banyok in Sibu is scheduled to be completed in September and October respectively this year after multiple delays due to construction work order problems.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Dudong chairman Wong Ching Yong explained that the construction works for both school buildings using the industrialised building system (IBS) were near completion with progress at 80 per cent when the contractors were ordered to stop work by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
SK Kampung Banyok is a wooden structure built in 1967 and houses 62 pupils. However, Wong revealed that the school has insufficient classrooms, thus forcing Primary One and Three pupils to share a classroom divided only by a partition.
“The library is used as a classroom while 12 teachers and staff members also have to cram in a room,” he said in a statement today.
As for SK Tanjung Latap, Wong shared that the wooden buildings were severely damaged by termites and the MOE had built a new IBS building but the workmanship was not in line with specifications in the awarded tender.
“So the tender was terminated by MOE in 2018. The school had wanted to move into the new IBS building but it was not possible because the MOE is still looking for a new contractor to complete the works in accordance with the tender,” he added.
Wong, who is also Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman, had visited the schools in November and December last year and the principals of SK Tanjung Latap and SK Kampung Banyok had urged the government to expedite the appointment of new contractors to complete the construction projects.
“The buildings are urgently needed to address the shortage of classrooms and staff offices at the two primary schools.
“Then, I was informed that the works had actually commenced in 2018, but after the contracts were terminated in October 2020 due to non-compliance with tender specifications, the construction works had completely stopped,” he said.
Following the visits, Wong had then in December 2020 written to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong to urge for immediate action be taken to appoint new contractors in order to complete the schools’ upgrading projects.
“Apart from the two schools, there are two other schools in Dudong constituency that are using IBS namely SK Sungai Salim and SK Ulu Sungai Salim,” he shared.
With building works due to be completed in coming months, Wong extended his thanks and gratitude to the Sarawak government for the prompt action to provide a conducive learning and teaching environment at the two schools. — DayakDaily
