Parents Hope For Swift Reconstruction Of SK Balaban Jaya

BELURAN, April 16 (Bernama) -- Parents of pupils at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Balaban Jaya are urging the government to expedite reconstruction works at the school following structural damage caused by soil movement and slope instability.

Nor Azwah Mukram, 26, whose son, Muhammad Naim Zarith Abdullah, 9, is currently under home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) for two weeks, said that while PdPR had helped ensure lessons continued without interruption, she hoped for better-equipped learning facilities in the area.

“After the two-week PdPR period, the students will be accommodated temporarily at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekan Beluran, where they will continue their studies.

“Thank you to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his attention to this school. I hope the reconstruction can be expedited. I would also like to thank the Education Ministry, which will provide transportation for the children to the temporary school,” she told Bernama.

A picture of SK Balaban Jaya students studying under tents along the corridors of a mosque recently went viral, drawing the attention of the prime minister, who shared the matter on his Facebook page on April 11 and called for an immediate solution.

On April 13, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the MADANI Government had approved RM52 million under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan, for the reconstruction of the school.

Beluran is an inland district on the east coast of Sabah, located about 300 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu.

Nor Azwah, a Kampung Balaban resident, said parents were informed by the school that damage had been reported to parts of the building structure and other facilities, including the roads.

She said that after the school was deemed unsafe, the pupils initially underwent PdPR for two weeks, before continuing their lessons at a village hall and later relocating to the Balaban Mosque compound.

Another Kampung Balaban resident, Mohd Saidal Tibi, 45, hoped that the reconstruction of the school could be expedited to ensure safe and quality access to education for children in the area.

“Thank you to the government for its concern for the education of the children here, by providing a place to study and free transport to the temporary school later.

“Although I have some concerns about my child going to SK Pekan Beluran as she is only eight and it is quite far from here to town, I understand and have no choice but to agree for the sake of her education,” he said.

Meanwhile, SK Balaban Jaya pupil Mohamad Daniel Norhan Abdullah, 12, said he hoped to return to school soon as the learning environment there was more conducive.

“When we were moved to the village hall, it was quite uncomfortable because of the heat and noise. Now, during my two weeks of PdPR, I am facing problems with internet access.

“My younger brother and I go to my aunt’s house as there is internet access there, and it also helps us with our homework during online classes,” he said.

-- BERNAMA