RM60,000 allocation for Tawau colleges, schools
Published on: Saturday, June 27, 2020
By: Lagatah Toyos
TAWAU: A total of RM60,000 in emergency allocation was approved immediately to upgrade the infrastructure of several colleges and schools here.State Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (pic) said the allocation would be used for repairing minor damages and the plumbing system and providing dormitory mattresses and others that need immediate attention for the convenience of college and school students, including in the rural and urban areas.ADVERTISEMENT
He disclosed this to media during a working visit to the Tawau Vocational College (KVT), Friday, to complete his series of visits to educational institutions in Tenom, Keningau, Kalabakan and Tawau.
During the visit, he also distributed state aid - face masks and hand sanitisers.
Dr Yusof said he was pleased with the preparations and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) implemented in the schools and colleges to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
He noted that the issues faced by colleges and schools in the State were about the same and needed serious attention, especially in relation to infrastructure.ADVERTISEMENT
“The infrastructure shortcomings need to be addressed. For example, in the Kalabakan area, there are still wooden school buildings that are in danger of collapsing,” he said.
He said there are also schools that have beautiful buildings but do not have the hall and some have hostels but the facilities are incomplete.
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“Therefore, the efforts to meet the educational needs of the State should be addressed jointly by the State and Federal governments because even though it is under Federal responsibility, the power to approve land is under the State.
“Let’s not politicise education because the main thing is our children must have a conducive learning atmosphere and better access to education,” he said.
According to him, at least RM3 billion is needed to address the issues of 589 or nearly 600 poor schools in the State, out of the 1,300 existing schools.
“Most of the poor schools have wooden structures, including 90 schools that have been declared unsafe and need to be emptied.
“The issue of poor schools in Sabah and Sarawak has been going on for a long time, unlike in the peninsula,” he said.
Dr Yusof also said the Covid-19 pandemic was an eye-opener to the State and Federal governments on internet access when students had to climb hills and trees to get coverage just for online exams.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He also said records showed only 15pc of Sabah students have a computer or laptop.
He hoped the State Government’s RM30 million allocation for the installation of 165 new towers in Sabah would improve the coverage.