Ranau: The government has announced a substantial allocation of RM20 million to construct a new replacement building block for Comprehensive School 9 (K9) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tibabar. This development will include administrative offices, classrooms, a library, teachers’ quarters, and other essential facilities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek highlighted the project as a reflection of the MADANI Government’s commitment to enhancing educational access, particularly in the rural regions of Sabah and Sarawak. The initiative aims to ensure high-quality education for students and the surrounding community. SK Tibabar, which operates under the K9 School Programme, plays a crucial role in facilitating education access in the area and addressing issues related to student dropouts.
The K9 School Programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), provides nine years of continuous schooling at both primary and secondary levels on the same campus. This approach is designed to tackle student dropout rates in rural and geographically challenging areas. Currently, 33 such programmes are operational nationwide, with 15 located in Sabah.
During her address at the event, Fadhlina underscored the benefits of the K-9 model school, which allows students to progress from primary school to Form Three without needing to change schools. This model is intended to provide improved educational opportunities for the local population.
Fadhlina also urged parents to ensure their children remain engaged with the national education system. She stressed the importance of parental support in the government’s mission to deliver education to all children across the nation.
“The government’s provision of free education and the compulsory primary education policy must be complemented by parents’ commitment to sending their children to school. Every child deserves a quality education, and we must remove any barriers preventing them from continuing their studies,” she stated.
In a separate context, Fadhlina addressed an incident in Melaka involving a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidate linked to the deaths of his mother and brother. She assured the public that the Ministry of Education is cooperating with authorities in the investigation and is focused on supporting another victim who was injured in the incident.
“We need to offer the family time and space to process this tragic and unexpected event,” she remarked, emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to monitoring the family’s welfare.
The incident involved the death of a 51-year-old teacher and her 21-year-old son, while her youngest child was severely injured in an alleged stabbing at their home in Taman Rambai Mutiara, Bukit Rambai, Melaka.