SIBU: Dayak non-governmental organisations here have called for the establishment of a special committee to oversee and manage the allocation of funds for dilapidated schools.
And they want the Sarawak government involved to ensure the projects are executed according to the set timelines.
Dayak National Congress (DNC) president Paul Raja and Dayak Think Tank Associations Sarawak (DTTAS) deputy president Ricky Sani in a joint statement on Sunday (Sept 3) said Sarawak, a state with numerous dilapidated schools, deserves immediate attention from the government for upgrading.
They stressed the lack of effective monitoring on dilapidated school improvement projects nationwide is hindering progress.
“There have been no notable developments in addressing the issue,” they said.
They said the condition of most primary and secondary schools is disheartening and difficult to describe, with leaking classroom roofs, and deteriorating walls on the verge of collapse, and these schools still rely on generators as their primary source of electricity.
“We are deeply saddened by the existence of dilapidated schools in the outskirts of towns. The condition of these schools remains unchanged from 40 years ago.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoE) must be committed to resolving the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak as soon as possible and prioritise it in the 2024 Budget allocation,” they said.
It is only fitting that the government provides all the necessary facilities, good infrastructure, and qualified teachers to ensure these students not only excel in their academics but also other fields, they said.
“Even though the conditions and facilities in Sarawak lag far behind, the teachers remain enthusiastic to teach, and the students show a high level of eagerness to learn.
“We believe that if the government provides better infrastructure, both teachers and students can improve the quality of education in these schools.”
They stressed that the educational infrastructure is crucial and should receive full attention from the government as education is the key to overcoming poverty, especially in rural Sarawak.
“We are not asking for perfection, but at the very least, provide some comfort for these rural children so that their minds can develop positively without undue pressure, and they can learn in a conducive environment, even if it’s not on par with schools in urban areas,” they added.
