KUALA LUMPUR – Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (Igan-GPS) has suggested that the Education Ministry prioritise and focus on dilapidated schools in Sarawak under Budget 2024.
When debating the 2024 supply bill today, he said the 367 dilapidated schools in the state required immediate action and rebuilding.
“Sarawak has 367 poor-conditioned schools, of which 252 schools are at a scale of 6 and 105 schools are at a scale of 7 in terms of poor-condition.
“All 367 schools have to be rebuilt. I hope the Education Ministry will prioritise this under Budget 2024 in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“The ministry should be aware of poor-conditioned schools as we always talk about education quality, equity and justice,” he said.
Additionally, Johnie pointed out seven out of the 367 dilapidated schools are located in Igan.
Meanwhile, he also stressed that Sarawak still has a shortage of 3,063 teachers that must be filled immediately.
“I suggest that the ministry appoint more Sarawakian youth in their hometowns because many are still unemployed and interested in being educators, especially as MyStep teachers.
“The ministry should reintroduce teacher appointment schemes such as on-leave courses, postgraduate programmes or interim teachers under Mystep, (as well as bringing in) temporary teachers or interim teachers who are interested in being full-time teachers,” he added. – October 16, 2023