SANDAKAN: The Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) at SK Sungai Anib 3 needs its own building for a more conducive classroom and study environment.
The PKKI class, which was placed in the school since Jan 31, 2008, has seen an increase in the number of students, compelling the need for a larger classroom.
As such, the school has brought the request to Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying during her visit to the school last Wednesday.
Lim was open to the idea and stated the importance of prioritising the PKKI. At SK Sungai Anib 3, there are 54 PKKI students.
“I will bring this suggestion by the school to the Ministry.
“We hope that we can hold more classes like this in schools and ensure that students with special needs have the opportunity to learn and get a proper education,” she said when visiting the school.
Also present were Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee, State Education Department (School Management Sector) Deputy Director Abidin Marjan, Sandakan Education Officer Dr Dalmansa Tahil, SK Sungai Anib 3 Special Education Senior Assistant Shirley Liew and Sabah DAP Organisational Secretary Liau Fui Fui representing Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon.
During her visit, Lim announced that an allocation of RM100,000 would be given to PPKI SK Sungai Anib 3 to repair wiring problems and address termite issues, among others.
Meanwhile, Lim also visited SJKC Pei Ying in which the School Management Board expressed to her the hope that the Education Ministry would approve the application to move the school near Taman Nasalim.
School Management Board Chairman Lo Pao San said three acres of land in the area had been approved by its owner for the construction of the new school, which will house 33 primary school classrooms and 10 pre-school classrooms.
Lo said the construction works, estimated to be worth RM5 million, are also ready to be implemented.
“We just hope that the Ministry and Education Department will approve the application to move the school location to this new site,” he added.
Lo said there was a need to relocate the school, as it is located on a hilly area and has been operating for more than 60 years, which has a weak structure as it is made out of wood.
Among other things, Lim was informed that students enrolling at the school were getting fewer as less people are living in surrounding areas.
One way to solve it is to move the school to a more strategic place where there will be more students.
“They have suggested this to me and I have asked them to prepare a more organised proposal which I will take to the Ministry and examine their application,” said Lim.
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