Kota Kinabalu: The State Education Department has to immediately use the ready allocation that it has now for repair work on damaged parts of some 30 primary and secondary schools in Ranau, Keningau, Kota Belud, Nabawan and Kota Kinabalu.Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said Tuesday, ready allocation is meant for repairs that can be carried out immediately, for example on fallen ceilings.
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will top up later," she said when contacted.
Yap, who is Member of Parliament for Tawau, had accompanied Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Education, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the latter's visit to Ranau last Sunday.
She said, as instructed by the DPM, the Deputy Secretary-General of MOE, Dato' Hj Raihan Sharif, who was also present during the visit, was now looking into the need for repair work in the affected schools. at SMK Agama Ranau and SMK Ranau.
"The principals of the two schools that we visited (SMK Agama Ranau and SMK Ranau) were relieved and felt comforted in getting the assurance from Tan Sri Muhyiddin that immediate action would be taken by MOE to send the much-needed fund over for restoration of certain parts of the schools that were adversely affected by the earthquake," she said.
According to Yap, the Public Works Department (JKR) would also immediately carry out forensic investigation to determine whether any of the affected buildings like the teachers' flat at SMK Ranau need to be demolished or not.
"In view of the sense of urgency as well as working on the principle of empowerment, the principals concerned were also instructed by the DPM to work together with the Ranau District Education Office (PPD) in getting contractors to do the repair work," she said.
On a personal level, Yap said as a former teacher, she could not help shedding tears upon hearing that among those who perished were teachers and students from Singapore.
"Somehow or rather, regardless of where they were from, this teaching fraternity connection between a teacher and students as well as other teachers is always in me. What was supposed to be an educational venture had turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy.
"I felt the pain of loss as well for our dedicated mountain guides and climbers, and I will continue to pray for the wellbeing of the bereaved families. May God grant them strength, comfort and peace as they mourn their lost loved ones," she added.
