KUCHING: Pupils of SK Paun Temaga, Sematan will move into their new school block next week, ending years of studying in old crumbling classrooms.
The new school block comprising four classrooms and teachers’ quarters was built under the Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak (PBHS) special corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme for all its main contractors.
The school block and teachers’ quarters for SK Paun Temaga was constructed by Samling Resources at a cost of RM1 million.
A simple yet meaningful handing over ceremony of the school was held yesterday. It was
attended by officials from the State Education Department, Samling Resources and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara.
SK Paun Temaga headmaster Albert Bujon said, “We are short of classrooms. One of our classes even has to be divided into two to fit students of two classes. Thankfully we can now have proper classrooms for the students.”
There was also excitement at the spacious new 3-bedroom teachers’ quarters. Sopheena Nyowep who teaches English at the school said, “I look forward to moving into this new teachers’ quarters from my current rented house in Lundu. This new house will be more convenient and definitely more comfortable.”
SK Paun Temaga was built in 1965. Today, most of the school facilities are old and run down. Yet, the school authority try their best to operate within their means, as well as get the involvement of parents in its programmes. One such programme is beautification of the school compound in which each pupil is required to contribute one potted plant and to look after it.
SK Paun Temaga currently has 88 primary and kindergarten pupils from villages in Sematan area. Having consistently performed well academically, the school is included in the Government’s selected cluster schools programme for rural schools.
Under the ‘Usaha Murni Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak’ CSR schools programme, three
dilapidated schools have received new facilities to date, namely SK Kampung Buda (Betong) SK Puak (Lundu) and SK Paun Temaga (Sematan).
Facilities at three other rural schools are being improved − at SK Sungai Buloh (Selangau) by Musyati − Mudajaya JV; SK Engkabang (Roban) by PPES Works-Bina Puri JV and SK Kampung Bulau (Subis, Miri) by Konsortium KPE.
