SANDAKAN: Libaran Member of Parliament Datuk Suhaimi Haji Nasir has welcomed the Government’s intention to achieve the target of zero dilapidated schools by 2029.
Suhaimi also requested that the ministry review these schools and include them in the state’s priority list for the year 2025.
“In my area, there are 16 dilapidated schools that urgently need the government’s attention. Schools like SK Sakilan Desa and SK Gum-Gum Kecil are facing infrastructure problems such as old buildings, he said when debating the Committee Stage of the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Suhaimi, who is also the Sabah UMNO Information chief, explained that the school is also facing problems with a lack of basic facilities such as toilets and clean water supply.
“The students at SK Tanjong Pisau and SK Sungai Manila, on the other hand, have to use old cabins with electrical wiring issues as their classrooms.”
“The conditions in those schools are not conducive for students to focus on learning,” he said.
They also have to face safety risks considering that the building is unsafe for use,” he said.
At the same time, Suhaimi, who is also the Chief of the Libaran UMNO Division, suggested to the Ministry that the proposal to abolish examinations and examination-orientated learning should not be implemented.
“Examinations like UPSR at the primary school level are important for identifying a student’s mastery of the 3M skills and academic achievements.” The results of the test can also be used for the placement process into secondary schools or fully residential schools.
Suhaimi believes that the current assessment methods used to evaluate students are less suitable, and not all schools have sufficient resources to implement school-based assessment effectively, especially in the rural areas of Sabah.
“Teachers also face an additional burden in providing continuous assessments, which may affect their focus on teaching student development based on the methods that can be implemented.”
“But it only applies to certain subjects, such as science and physical and health education. With this proposal, the assessment of academic mastery and student development can be carried out holistically,” he added.
In this way, he also emphasised that the ministry can reduce pressure on students and subsequently encourage them to enjoy going to school.
