Education
RM26.4 million spent on schools in Gaya Island
By Shalina R
Pictures by Oliver Majaham
In 2011 Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi promised to rebuild the schools in Gaya Island. The first promise that he made was to improve the poor condition of SK Pulau Gaya during his first visit there that year. Leter in the same year, Puad came back to visit the island after hearing news that two blocks of SMK Pulau Gaya were destroyed by fire. That was when he made his second promise to rebuild the secondary school.
"The result can be seen today," said Kota Kinabalu District Education Officer Bad Hamid Musli at the newly built SK Pulau Gaya Open Hall. "The promises have been fulfilled," said Hamid during the Deputy Minister's recent trip to Gaya Island.
Puad returned to personally oversee the project's development in both schools. "I am very satisfied with the progress of the construction work on SK and SMK Pulau Gaya. The RM19.9 million project in SK Pulau Gaya has been completed just in time for the 2013 school session."
"The construction includes the building of classrooms, school canteen, teacher's accommodation, a surau, covered walkways and a new jetty to replace the old one that had collapsed last year. Clean water supply has also been secured in the school," he said. The construction works began on October 21st 2011 in SK Pulau Gaya and the project was completed on October 20th last year.
"Construction works in SMK Pulau Gaya are 94 percent complete. The cost involved for this project is RM6.5 million," added Puad. "RM1.9 million was utilized to rebuild the 8 classrooms that was destroyed in the fire and RM4.5 million was allocated to build 12 new additional classrooms using the cabin interlocking method."
"The current project is expected to be completed at the end of January this year. We are also working out the likely cost of upgrading the existing classrooms in SMK Pulau Gaya."
According to Puad, the Education Ministry allocated RM507 million for the upgrading and maintenance of schools in Sabah last year. This amount excludes the costs of building new schools.
The Education Ministry aims to optimize the potential of each child in the country. To balance the education level in urban and rural areas, it is essential to provide adequate educational facilities in every school.
"We want our children to excel in their studies. Therefore, I would like to announce a RM200,000 allocation for the installation of litter traps in SK Pulau Gaya," Puad said when he noticed piles of rubbish washed ashore near the school.
The Education Deputy Minister also presented the RM100 school aid vouchers to twenty give SK and SMK Pulau Gaya students.
"I feel very grateful to receive this money from the government. It will ease our financial burden and enable us to purchase new school uniforms and text books for our two children," said housewife Nur Ulena. "My husband is a fishermen. He sells his catch locally on the island and the income fluctuates," she said. - Insight Sabah
Posted on January 23, 2013
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Puad Zarkashi, Bad Hamid Musli, Education Ministry, SK SMK Pulau Gaya, Gaya Island, education, schools, aid
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