Selasa, 15 Februari 2011

Buildings unsafe, but 1,000 pupils still attending school

KOTA KINABALU: Three primary school buildings in the east coast of Tawau have been declared unsafe for about a year but at least 1,000 pupils are continuing to attend classes there.

Despite the Public Works Department’s declaration that the buildings are unsafe, the pupils still attend classes and hold activities at the schools – SK Bahagia, SK Kukusan and SK Jambatan Putih.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said that a full report on the condition of the schools had been submitted to the Education Ministry but no steps had been taken to ensure the safety of the students and teachers.

“I handed over the report to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he was in Lahad Datu during the fasting month last year.

“I was assured that some allocation would be made available for the schools but until today, nothing has come,” Ghapur said.

He added that he had also discussed the problem with Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi.

“I just hope nothing serious happens,” said Ghapur, who urged the Education Ministry to act.

The three schools come under the Kalabakan constituency of Tawau.

Sabah Education Department director Datuk Dr Muhiddin Yusin said the state office had forwarded to the ministry the PWD reports on the safety of the buildings.

“It is up to the ministry to take action. We have done what we are supposed to do,” he said.

However, he said that his department and other relevant agencies were continuously monitoring the structure of the buildings.

The Star Online: 15 Februari 2011

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