MOE To Evaluate Damage On 78 Schools Affected By Floods In Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- A total of 78 schools in Sabah, including 68 primary schools and 10 secondary schools, have been identified as affected by the recent floods that hit the state.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the affected schools involved 35 schools in Beaufort district, Papar (20), Penampang (six), Nabawan (five), Keningau, Sipitang and Tenom with three schools each, Tambunan (two) and Kota Belud (one). 

“The overall damage assessment is being studied and repairs will be carried out immediately to ensure the best access to education and smooth operation of education,” she said at a press conference at Wisma Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Sabah here today. 

Fadhlina said about 50 per cent of the affected schools had been cleaned and post-flood cleaning work is currently being carried out, involving volunteers from the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM).

She said the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) also provided financial assistance to 50 schools affected by the flood disaster, apart from Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin (KWAMP) assistance of RM300 to each eligible student.         

Other assistance in the form of takaful insurance was provided to victims who died due to landslides and assistance from Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN) which contributed school equipment to schools affected by the flood disaster.

Regarding the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) Gaya Campus, Fadhlina said the ministry would submit an application in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to build a new dormitory block on the flat area at the IPG.

She said for a short-term solution, the IPGM would rent premises for a lecture hall in a nearby area and several other building premises had also been identified to be rented to replace classrooms or lecture rooms in the affected blocks.

On Sept 18, the ministry ordered the immediate evacuation of the quarter building near the landslide site at the institute.

-- BERNAMA