PETALING JAYA: Funds under the RM1.4 billion allocation for the repair of dilapidated school buidings nationwide will be given from this week.
Education director-general Pkharuddin Ghazali said RM650 million would be distributed first to schools under the education ministry, Bernama reported.
This amount would also cover the cost of toilet repairs in providing comfort to students.
“We already have a list of everything, the schools and the number involved.
“What’s important is that the Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR) under the chief secretary to the government will ensure the renovation of the dilapidated schools is expedited.
“Each school will be getting RM70,000 for minor maintenance, including toilet repairs. That has been among the things that has been given focus by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“If the toilets are well-maintained, children will look forward to going to school,” he told reporters after officiating the 30th National Seminar on Educational Leadership Towards Malaysia Madani in Nilai today.
Yesterday, the prime minister announced an additional allocation of RM1.4 billion for the repair of dilapidated schools in the country this year.
However, the Bernama report did not mention anything about a complaint by Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg yesterday that the ministry was dragging its feet over releasing funds to repair dilapidated schools in the state.
He said it had got to the point where Sarawak would have to start funding repairs from its own coffers.
Under the 2023 budget, RM920 million was allocated to upgrade buildings and infrastructure in 380 dilapidated schools, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, via special funds for immediate implementation.