Gov't Mulls Temporary Hostels For Students Affected By Numbak Fire - Mustapha

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud and Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek will jointly study a proposal to temporarily accommodate students affected by the recent fire in Numbak at school hostels with available places.

Mustapha said the initial proposal was among the measures being considered to ensure that the learning process of the affected students was not disrupted, particularly those sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination and Form Six students.

He said the Sabah Education Department (JPN) had been instructed to identify the needs of the affected students, including the option of placing them in other school hostels if placements were available.

“That is among the proposals put forward by the state education department. We need to study the proposal and find ways to give the students priority so that their learning process is not disrupted.

“We will focus on helping these students so that they have a conducive environment to continue their studies,” he told reporters after the presentation of contributions to fire victims at Kolej Tingkatan Enam Pra Universiti Kota Kinabalu here today.

Mustapha said special attention should be given to students who are sitting for major examinations as they require a more conducive environment to concentrate on their studies.

He said based on initial observations, some affected students were still staying in tents at the site of the incident as well as at a mosque, adding that the situation needed to be given attention to ensure that their studies were not affected.

At the presentation ceremony, nine Form Six students from Kolej Tingkatan Enam and 129 students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Kebagu received school supplies.

Mustapha said that based on records from the state education department, a total of 410 students from eight schools were affected by the fire.

Each affected student will receive RM300 in financial assistance under the Poor Students Trust Fund (KWAPM), in addition to school bags and stationery.

On Aug 30, a devastating early-morning fire destroyed about 200 stilt houses in the Kampung Numbak area, with three young children - two siblings and their cousin - tragically found burnt to death in the blaze.

-- BERNAMA