Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government, through the State Education Fund (TPNS), presented aid to 17 schools affected by the recent floods.
Sixteen primary schools received RM20,000 each, while the worst hit, SM St Michael Penampang, received RM40,000.
Principals and headmasters of the respective schools received the aid presented by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ariffin Arif in a ceremony at SICC, here.
Ariffin, who is also education exco, said a total of RM360,000 was allocated under TPNS to reduce the burden of the schools involved.
He said the noble effort was an initiative of the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who wanted all schools affected by the recent floods to be helped as soon as possible.
“The amount of losses is still under assessment by the State Education Department (JPNS).
“At the same time, JPNS will try to apply for allocations from the Federal Government to help those schools,” he said.
Ariffin said his side also approved eyeglass assistance for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) students in need.
He said some 5,000 students from all over the State are eligible for the aid, which will be implemented in the near future in stages.
“We will contact other government statutory bodies (GLCs), including Petronas, to ask them to join us in this effort,” he said.
Ariffin said the TPNS has reached RM57 million as a result of GLC contributions.
Of that amount, RM5 million has been spent for the benefit of more than 5,000 beneficiaries.
According to him, TPNS also received a donation of RM7.7 million recently, which Hajiji witnessed.
Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Seri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar was also present at the ceremony.
