SERIAN: The first international school in Petra Jaya, Kuching which is operating this year has received 120 students.

Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that the limited number of students for the first phase was taken into account due to the school’s lack of facilities.

“The building is already there but there are some facilities that are still not sufficient, so for now we can only take 120 students.

“This is because of the insufficient dormitories for the first group which has already started this year,” he said when asked by reporters about the development of the establishment of international schools in Sarawak.

He added that another international school located in Mile 12, Kuching is currently under construction, while three other new international schools are in the process of identifying their respective sites in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

“The progress of the work on the schools depends on how long it takes to identify the suitable sites to start construction.

“At least maybe between two to five years, this is because building construction is not an easy job that can be completed in just a few days, it definitely takes time,” he stressed.

In the same development, Sagah informed that the teaching staff for the school has been prepared by the International School Education Committee of the Sarawak Foundation.

“Teachers are indeed ready and have been interviewed by the education committee that has been appointed to carry out this matter,” he said.

Earlier, Sagah officiated at the launch of the first Education and Career Exhibition at Tapah Community Hall, organised by the Ministry for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MITRED) this year.