FORMER deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching today questioned if schools affected by the recent floods were ready to open next week seeing that many of them have yet to receive the allocation for repairs promised by Putrajaya.

The opposition lawmaker said, according to the Senior Minister of Education Mohd Radzi Md Jidin on December 15, 2021 in Parliament, the allocation for school maintenance for 2021 has yet to be fully distributed.

Teo said there was a balance of RM11.68 million for all public primary, secondary schools as well as Chinese and Tamil schools.

 “My question is, why is the repair and restoration work so slow? It has been more than two weeks since the floods and we have not heard of any announced allocation with immediate effect to be channelled to these schools,” Teo said in a statement. 

She also said the ministry had received RM900 million for school maintenance under Budget 2022.

“Why has the money not been utilised on an urgent basis to assist badly affected schools so that the students can return to school as soon as possible?

 “Three weeks have passed, and the school community, including teachers and parents need more proactive initiatives from the ministry,” she added.

On Tuesday, the ministry said that the 113 schools that were affected by floods or converted into evacuation centres (PPS) were not ready to open for classes for now.

The ministry said 18 schools were inundated and 87 were converted into shelters while eight had been repaired after sustaining damage in the floods.

“The ministry will continue to monitor and update every Wednesday the list of education institutions that were hit by floods or used as PPS.

“Changes to the list issued by the ministry will be subject to the current flood situation,” it said.

‘More important role’

Teo said that according to a ministry statement dated January 3, a total of eight schools in Pahang were badly affected by the floods and not ready to operate. 

“I appreciate the fact that the minister has been involved in the cleaning process in SMK Bentong and a few other schools but he obviously has a more important role to play “such as ensuring all repairs and restoration work are carried out without any delay.”

 “The lack of urgent action even after being in the scene of the aftermath of the floods speaks abundantly of the lack of sincerity for restoration works to take place soonest,” Teo said.

The DAP lawmaker also added that safety, security, and cleanliness is of paramount importance and these aspects cannot be compromised in a schooling environment.

“Urgent action is needed from the minister to ensure that schools are restored to functioning conditions, safe for children and teachers.”

 To inspect the conditions of schools, Teo visited SJKT Karak (Tamil school) in Pahang with the Sabai state assemblyman Kamache Doray Rajoo yesterday.

 “SJKT Karak is one of the most badly affected schools. The floods have had a severe impact on the infrastructure, facilities and furniture of the school.

 “School fences ruined, lab equipment destroyed, fridge, bookshelves and cabinets need to be replaced. Yet, there is no indication when these repairs and replacement will be done.

“According to Kamache, Karak (district) has recorded one death because of leptospirosis.”

Teo added that disinfection needs to be urgently carried out before the students return to school.

She said DAP Johor donated RM5,000 to the school so that repair and restoration work could be carried out immediately while waiting for the allocation from the ministry.

“However, SJKT Karak is not the only school that remains unsuitable and unable to reopen anytime soon.” – January 7, 2022.