Sabah wooden schools to get better ‘wiring’

This is following reports that recent school fires in Sabah were due to old wiring systems, said deputy minister P Kamalanathan.

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Education will identify schools particularly wooden ones in Sabah that need improved electrical wiring systems to ensure the safety of the school and students, especially during a fire.

Deputy Education Minister II P. Kamalanathan said the decision was taken following fires at a number of wooden school buildings statewide recently, and to once and for all avoid the recurrence of such incidents in other schools particularly in rural areas.

“We have now identified a number of schools in need of new improved wiring systems and priority will be given to these schools.

“It is understood that the school fires that occurred recently in Sabah were due to the wooden structures of the schools and problems due to old wiring systems,” he told reporters after attending the Ministry of Education’s ‘Meet the Clients Day’ event at 1Borneo Hypermall, here today.

He was commenting on the efforts taken by the ministry to enhance the safety of wooden school buildings in Sabah following the fire incidents in five elementary schools in Kiulu, Beaufort, Papar, Kota Marudu and Tuaran over the last few months.

The ministry had also expedited allocations to restore the recently burnt school buildings.

Meanwhile, the two-day event which ended today drew 4,000 visitors and provided an opportunity to the public including school staff to obtain information relating to various matters and issues involving education in the state.

More than 40 agencies and departments under the ministry marketed services prepared by the ministry in addition to getting feedback from the community in order to produce a positive impact on the education system in the state.

FMT Borneo Plus