Kuala Lumpur: The Education Ministry has identified 289 dilapidated schools in Sabah, with 64 deemed to be unsafe by the Public Works Department (PWD).
Its Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the 64 schools were rated 7 on the impact grade score (a score that considers buildings to be in the worst shape), while 225 schools were on scale 6.
Buildings rated 1 to 4 on the scale are still functioning, safe to be used, and need only periodic maintenance, while buildings rated 5 are deemed to be unsafe as reported by the school management, and needing maintenance.
Scale 6 is meant for the building that is unsafe as justified by the technical department of the district education office, and buildings rated 7 refers to buildings that are unsafe and are recommended to be demolished by the PWD.
“The number of dilapidated schools rated 6 and 7 on the scale is dynamic and will change based on the condition of the building from time to time. The Education Ministry’s priority is for buildings on scale 6 and 7 to be upgraded or to build replacement buildings as needed.
“Construction of these replacement buildings is implemented in phases through allocations approved by the central agency for each rolling plan in the five-year Malaysia Plans,” she said in a written reply in Parliament.
She was responding to a question from Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (Barisan Nasional-Kalabakan) who had asked for statistics of dilapidated schools by parliamentary constituency in Sabah and the Ministry’s strategic plan to resolve the issue.
Fadhlina said, however, the approval and implementation of the project depended on the priority and the Government’s current financial position.
Ranau had the most number of dilapidated schools with 44, followed by Pensiangan (34), Beaufort (29), Keningau (21), Tuaran (18), Kudat (17) and Silam (15).
Libaran and Sepanggar had 14 dilapidated schools each, followed by Beluran (13), Kota Belud (12), Kinabatangan (10), Papar (eight), Sipitang (seven) and Tenom (six).
There are five dilapidated schools each in Kalabakan and Penampang; four in Kimanis; three each in Batu Sapi, Kota Marudu and Tawau; and two each in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
She said the Government had approved RM1.96 billion between 2016 and 2022, involving 274 schools and 282 upgrading projects Statewide.
“As of Jan 31, 206 projects have been completed, 33 projects are under construction and 43 are in the pre-building stage,” she added.
