SEREMBU assemblyman Miro Simuh has described the RM81.7 million provision to address the issue of dilapidated schools in the state as “a good move by the state govt”.
Miro said he saw the allocation as “courageous and breaking into new ground” because education is under purview of Federal Government.
“It shows that the state government is sensitive to the dire need on the ground. Education is basic to human development, which can only progress if educational infrastructure is in place,” he said when asked for his comments yesterday.
He said many Sarawakians worried when the Federal Government failed to specify allocations to address the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
“If indeed the more than 1000 dilapidated schools do not get any attention from 2019 national budget, then let the people judge what is morally right or morally wrong. Let the people know the real situation facing the state now,” he added.
Meanwhile, the political secretary to the chief minister Dr Simon Sindang Bada said those schools categorised under “worst condition” would be given priority.
These schools which numbered over 400 had buildings that needed structural reinforcement, new roofs, walls and floors, he said.
“Definitely, RM81.7 million is not enough even to help these more than 400 schools, but we will go to those in dire need, which shows how serious the situation out there is and how serious the state government views this problem,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said the state government could not just “let the situation be” even though providing educational infrastructure was the responsibility of the Federal Government.
