By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Sept 28: Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong today expressed his satisfaction with the works on dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
He said that the implementation of the projects was funded through an allocation of RM1 billion, which is a contra loan (to repair the schools) which has been agreed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Sarawak government. So far, the Sarawak government has disbursed RM700 million for the purpose.
“Yes, I’m satisfied with the work progress carried out by our State JKR (Public Works Department) on our dilapidated schools,” Manyin told a news conference at his office at Bangunan Baitul Makmur here today.
He also thanked the Ministry of Works and MOE for their cooperation in carrying out the projects.
It was reported recently that the federal government has approved a total of 93 projects to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak for phases one and two as at Aug 17, 2020 costing RM700 million.
Deputy Education Minister I Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon had said that the projects to repair schools’ dilapidated buildings will be implemented via three phases; phase one involves 41 schools with a project cost of RM350 million while phase two involves 52 schools, costing RM350 million.
“For phase three, in terms of list and scope of projects, these are currently being finalised by the MOE together with the Sarawak government involving cost totalling RM300 million,” Mah said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat recently.
On the implementation status of phase one, he said that a total of 21 projects were in the construction phase and another 20 projects were in the pre-construction stage.
As for the implementation status of phase two, all projects are in the pre-built phase, with the Sarawak Public Works Department carrying out survey work and preparation of tender documents, he said. The project is expected to be tendered in stages from Aug 22.
He explained that the implementation of the rehabilitation projects covers various scopes including the construction of classrooms, administrative blocks, hostels, teachers’ quarters, resource centres, toilets and other facilities.-DayakDaily
