SANDAKAN: The Education Ministry is doing all it can to solve the problem of sekolah tumpang (a secondary school inhabiting the same space as a primary school) involving 23 schools in Sabah, says Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.
The Education Minister said 20 of the schools have received RM706mil in allocations to erect a building while efforts to secure funds for the remaining three are ongoing.
“Sabah has more sekolah tumpang than any other state. It is an infrastructure challenge for us.
“We will focus on schools that were not completed on schedule. The most important thing is that our students get a first-rate learning facility,” he told reporters after opening the new SMK Libaran building yesterday.
Radzi said the school, which has 597 students and was one of the 23 sekolah tumpang, had co-existed with SK Sungai Padas, a primary school 3km away, for over 22 years.
Located 25km from Sandakan, SMK Libaran will start welcoming students July 1.
On another matter, Radzi said the ministry is in talks with several parties about how to instil a love for nature among students.
“Our children must understand that we need to take care of our natural treasures for future generations”. — Bernama