TUBAU, Dec 28: Three primary schools in Tubau area which have been seriously affected by the recent floods are in dire need of help and funding for the schools to be opened on Jan 3 when the new school semester starts.
These three schools are SK Bukit Balai, SK Kuala Kebulu and SK Long Urun.
The schools need to be cleaned up to prepare for them to be opened on Jan 3 while some furniture need to be replaced after being submerged in flood waters.
According to Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, flood waters have subsided since yesterday.
However, as today students are supposed to report to the schools to make preparation for the start of the school semester next year, many are affected.
There are more than 300 students in SK Bukit Balai, less than 100 in SK Kuala Kebulu and more than 300 in SK Long Urun.
As many members of the respective Parent-Teacher Associations are still on holiday, Chukpai called for help to do a ‘gotong-royong’ (work party) to clean up the schools to prepare the schools to be opened next week.
“We also need funds and help from the Education Department to replace some of the furniture that was damaged by the flood waters.
“We hope the State Disaster Management Committee will also help by disbursing some emergency relief funds as soon as possible so that we can get ready as soon as possible to prepare for the new term next year.
“All NGOs and anyone who is willing to help are most welcome as school will be starting soon,” Chukpai told DayakDaily today.
He said this was not the first time these schools have been affected by flood.
“SK Bukit Balai and SK Kuala Kebulu are flooded at least four to five times every year! But this flood is the worst that we have ever faced,” said Chukpai.
The state assemblyman has sought for funding for the schools to be moved to higher ground and he has even brought up the requests in his speech at the State Legislative Assembly.
“So far, we are still waiting for an answer,” said Chukpai. — DayakDaily
