PAPAR: A total of RM900 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Education (MOE) to address the problem of dilapidated schools in the 2023 Budget presented by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, last Friday.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the amount was meant for 380 schools nationwide.
However, she said the ministry would review the list of poor schools in Sabah and Sarawak as most of the problems were faced in both states.
"Overall we have RM900 million for all schools, not just Sabah and Sarawak. But we will relook at Sabah and Sarawak.
"Sabah has one of the most dilapidated schools," she said after inspecting the unsafe and flood prone Sekolah Kebangsaan at Pekan Kinarut, here, today.
Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak and Special Duties), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
During the tabling of 2023 Budget 2023, Anwar who is also prime minister had said that RM2.3 billion was allocated to ensure the best infrastructure and learning facilities in all schools, including upgrading the buildings and infrastructure in 380 dilapidated schools.
For Sabah and Sarawak, there would be special procurement as those buildings urgently needed upgrading.
Based on Fadhlina's written answer in Parliament on the issue, the ministry has identified a total of 289 dilapidated schools across Sabah.
For now, 64 of them are certified as unsafe by the Public Works Department (JKR) which is on a scale of seven. Another 225 are on scale six, which means unsafe buildings.
In Sabah, Ranau district has the highest dilapidated schools at 44, Pensiangan (34), Beaufort (29), Keningau (21), Tuaran (18), Kudat (17), Silam (15), while each of 14 in Libaran and Sepanggar.
Others are Beluran (13), Kota Belud (12), Kinabatangan (10), Papar (eight), Sipitang (seven), Tenom (six), five each in Kalabakan and Penampang, while Kimanis (four), three each in Batu Sapi, Kota Marudu and Tawau and two poor schools each in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.