Minister calls for urgent repair works on flood-hit primary school in Beluran

KOTA KINABALU (Feb 24): A primary school in Beluran sustains extensive damage following recent flooding, and thus, it is in urgent need for intervention to restore the facilities for the pupils.

In this respect, Sabah’s Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr James Ratib said that the school’s infrastructure and equipment were severely impacted, with an estimated 90 per cent of its facilities damaged or destroyed.

“Immediate action is critical to ensure that the pupils can return to a safe environment, conducive to learning, as soon as possible,” he said in a statement, issued in connection with his inspection on SK Bawang K9 in Tangkarason, sited in the Paitan area.

Based on preliminary assessments, the school urgently requires some 200 sets of desks and chairs for the school-children and 30 sets for the teachers, as well as additional furniture for the administrative section.

Teaching and learning resources in nine classrooms were also affected, requiring replacements of whiteboards and smart televisions.

Textbook supplies were wiped out after floodwaters inundated the storage areas, while about 30 laptops and eight computer sets used by the children had been rendered unusable.

Damage was also reported at the resources centre, toilets and meeting room, and 10 water storage tanks had been swept away by the strong currents.

James called upon the state Education Department to expedite the delivery of assistance and coordinate recovery efforts so that the repair works and asset replacements could proceed without further delay.

“The District Education offices should promptly report similar incidents to enable faster response and support, as safeguarding access to education remains a shared responsibility,” added the minister.