Probe and blacklist contractors that don’t deliver, say teachers’ unions on run-down schools

 

The recent auditor-general’s report indicated that only 25.6% of 1,505 school upgrading and redevelopment projects were successfully implemented nationwide between 2019 and 2022. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: Teachers’ unions have urged the education ministry to investigate and blacklist contractors that fail to deliver on the upgrade and redevelopment of dilapidated school buildings, following an audit report showing that only a quarter of such projects were successfully implemented between 2019 and 2022.

Sarawak Teachers’ Union president Kullin Djayang said many schools in Sarawak were still in a state of disrepair.

“If a company is found to be unable to fulfil its duties, strict action including blacklisting and revoking their licences should be taken.

“Such firmness can serve as a lesson to other companies, preventing them from repeating the same mistakes,” Kullin told FMT.

Kullin was responding to the recent auditor-general’s report, which indicated that only 25.6% or 386 out of 1,505 school upgrading and redevelopment projects were successfully implemented nationwide between 2019 and 2022.

In March, it was reported that a newly established task force known as the Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR), along with the education ministry, had said it would look into ways to strengthen the implementation of projects to develop dilapidated school buildings.

Kullin urged STAR to conduct frequent site visits and ensure that ongoing projects align with scheduled plans and meet set standards.

“Many projects have been given approval but are yet to commence. We are tired of the promises and excuses made by past governments,” he said, adding that he hopes the current government can make amends.

Meanwhile, Ikatan Guru-Guru Muslim Malaysia president Azizee Hasan noted the possibility of leakage in the implementation of projects, urging the government to conduct thorough audits.

He said governments had consistently allocated substantial funds to repair dilapidated school buildings, yet progress had been slow.

From 2019 to 2022, the government allocated budgets ranging from RM652 million to RM783 million for the maintenance and redevelopment of dilapidated school buildings.

“Some schools (in Sarawak and Sabah) still have wooden structures instead of concrete. Some also face frequent water and electrical disruptions,” Azizee told FMT.

He said there could be no quality education if schools were still denied necessities, noting the drop in last year’s Programme for International Student Assessment or Pisa scores.

Fifteen-year-old Malaysians scored 409 in maths, down from the previous 440; 416 in science down, from 438 in 2018; and 388 in reading, down from 415.

Azizee urged the government to proactively address the issue, adding that enhancing the quality of education requires ensuring that students nationwide have access to fundamental facilities in schools. - FMT