SABAH welcomed the federal allocation in Budget 2019 to upgrade schools and improve power and water supply and internet access.

However, Sabah Assistant Education and Innovation Minister Jenifer Lasimbang said the state needed more funding for its initiatives.

“I am certainly delighted as the budget focuses on the development of human capital. It has always been the hope of the state to improve all its schools.

“It is also the state’s hope that the Education Ministry will invest more in research and innovation in education to bring forward a new learning era for students,” she said in response to the national budget tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

At least 54.5% of the schools in Sabah are classified as dilapidated and require immediate repair, and a number of the school buildings are wooden structures that are more than 50 years old.

Sabah Education and Innovation Minister Dr Yusof Yakob said only 37 of the total 1,296 schools had been repaired under Public Works Department supervision, while 83 were still undergoing repairs.

Putrajaya has set aside RM100 million for the repair and re-construction of dilapidated schools nationwide, with all of the projects to be carried out through open tender.

RM650 million is also allocated to help schools nationwide.

National schools will get RM250 million, Chinese (RM50 million), Tamil (RM50 milion), hostels (RM50 million), Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (RM50 million), Government-aid religous schools (RM50 million), missionary schools (RM50 million), Tahfiz (RM50 million), registered school huts (RM25 million), conforming schools (RM15 million) and Chinese private schools (RM12 million).

Sabah Assistant Rural Development Minister Ewon Benedict said the RM60 million allocation to boost human capital development in the country would be very meaningful for the welfare of the children, especially in rural Sabah.

“I hope with this huge allocation the welfare of the children in rural Sabah like Kampung Tagapalang in Paitan, will be given more focus.

“The same with college and school dropouts, who will now be given a second chance via entry into technical colleges or institutes,” he said. – November 2, 2018.