KUCHING: Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok is surprised 18,740 or 38 per cent of the 47,947 teachers’ quarters units developed nationwide are currently unoccupied.
The Sarawak Housing And Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) Kuching chairman felt the problem could be due to most teachers having their own accommodations or the policy of matching teachers to their preferred hometowns and allowing them to buy their own houses with special government housing loans with low interest rates.
“Another reason could be that the quarters are in poor condition and are not fit for occupation; they may require repairs before they can be used,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune.
According to a recent statement by Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ting, the Education Ministry (MoE) has developed 47,947 teacher housing units nationwide, out of which 18,740 are currently unoccupied.
In light of this, MoE has appointed real estate consultants to study the matter and propose solutions to optimise the use of these unoccupied units.
Sim suggested that these unoccupied units be turned into additional teaching, administration and storage facilities if they were within the school compounds.
He pointed out that the high rate of unoccupied units could have a positive impact on the property market.
When teachers bought their own houses, they created demand for houses.
However, he said, if the unoccupied units were due to the quarters being unfit for occupation, the Education Ministry might need to incur more costs to provide alternative accommodations for these teachers.
“The ministry is engaging the real estate consultants to assist them in seeking a solution for these unoccupied quarters and we hope that the eventual solution will benefit teachers and taxpayers alike for the benefit of our schoolchildren,” said Sim.
