A total of 587 dilapidated schools in the state have yet to be repaired, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He noted that initially, there are 1,020 dilapidated schools throughout the state.
“Since 2016, a total of 274 schools have been repaired and 159 schools in various stages of repair or upgrading, making the total of 433 schools being handled.
“This means that the remaining 587 schools are yet to be repaired,” he said when delivering the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) winding-up speech in the DUN sitting yesterday (Nov 13).
He also mentioned that since 2018, a total of RM1.85 billion was allocated for repairs and upgrading of dilapidated schools, of which the state contributed RM1.34 billion (inclusive of RM1 billion Advanced Contra Payment) whilst federal government allocated RM517 million.
He also said that the state government is piloting one centralised school in Tebedu, Serian known as SK Kujang Mawang.
The school will be the merger of two existing low enrolment schools in the area, namely SK Tesu and SK Entubuh.
“With the successful implementation of this school, we hope that other low enrolment schools will follow suit,” he said.
The merger was to address the issues faced by low enrolment schools such as not being provided with option-teachers for all subjects and receiving very little funding as allocations to schools are based on the number of students.
Uggah further said the state government through the Research and Development Council had established a Research Grants Scheme to assist local researchers and to encourage research and innovation in Sarawak.
As at Oct this year, a total of RM7.58 mil worth of research grants were disbursed. These grants were categorised as Catalyst Grant (27 recipients); Research Initiation Fund (16 recipients); Special Ventures Fund (16 recipients); Commercialisation Fund (one recipient); and Bright Spark School Fund (11 schools).
“For next year, the Council has allocated RM29 mil for a specific challenge grant call that addresses the key focus area of biomedical health science and biodiversity.
“The aim is to focus on Sarawak’s strength in its vast potential of biodiversity leading towards diagnostic kits, therapeutics and supplements,” he emphasised.
For Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for school leaders and teachers, 2,853 out of 3,795 targeted school leaders have attended various training programmes provided by the state at a cost of RM2.52 million so far.
“Meanwhile, the CPD programme for teachers began in 2018 and Sarawak has spent a total of RM3.15 million to train 3,850 Science, Mathematics and English language teachers,” he added.
He also informed that state-owned technical and vocational training (TVET) institutions namely Sarawak Skills Development Centre (SSDC) and Centre of Technical Excellence (Centexs), have expanded to seven institutions and six campuses, respectively.
“To date, SSDC has produced a total of 62,000 TVET graduates since its establishment in 1994. Graduate employability rate within six months after completion of study hovers around 89 percent.
“Meanwhile, Centexs has produced a total of 2,755 TVET graduates since its establishment. About 91 percent of its graduates have secured employment within six months of completing their training,” he revealed.
