Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MoE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), is set to construct a school in Kampung Serudung Laut, Kalabakan. This initiative, part of the Jiwa Murni programme, aims to broaden education access for children residing in remote areas.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that the school development process is currently in progress. The project has garnered substantial support from various stakeholders, including the local community. Fadhlina emphasized the importance of a smooth project execution, referencing her recent visit to the site, which she noted has excellent accessibility, thus allowing for an expedited process. Her remarks came after she attended the 69th anniversary celebration of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), an event officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman.

In the interim, while the school is under construction, the Ministry of Education has launched a special program to offer reading classes to students in the area. Fadhlina highlighted that teachers, provided by the Sabah Education Department, have been working in rotation to deliver these classes. Currently, approximately 30 students are participating, with expectations of increasing enrollment over time.

Addressing concerns about dilapidated schools in Sabah, Fadhlina reported that there are 390 ongoing projects aimed at upgrading these facilities. Of these, 230 projects have been completed, 67 are under construction, and 93 are in the pre-construction phase. The total expenditure for these projects amounts to RM6.078 billion.