RM5 MLN FUND ALLOCATED FOR REPAIRS AT UNITY KINDERGARTENS IN SABAH

TAWAU, March 18 (Bernama) – The National Unity Ministry has allocated RM5 million for urgent repair works at all Unity Kindergartens nationwide, its secretary-general, Datuk Ruji Ubi said.

He explained that repair work for the kindergartens, 1,781 in total and 142 located in Sabah, were not complicated as the buildings were simple compared to other education buildings, with common problems being leaky roofs and ceilings and plumbing issues.

“Out of the total 142 kindergartens in Sabah, 34 require immediate repairs at a cost of over RM2 million, based on estimates from the Sabah National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN),” he told reporters after officiating the Ramadan Mubarak programme here today.

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He also said that he had asked for RM5 million of the RM10 million allocated for repairs under the Budget 2025 to be expedited to for kindergartens in need of urgent repairs, adding that he would request for additional funds if needed.

In a separate matter, he said the mastering of 3R (reading, writing and arithmetic) among Unity Kindergarten pupils needed to be reinforced so that pupils would not have issues with it when they enter primary school.

He noted that about 122,000 Standard 1 pupils last year were not proficient in these skills and said he planned to visit kindergartens to assess teaching methods, teacher competencies and learning resources.

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Earlier at the event, Ruji presented Rahmah food baskets to 30 recipients and oversaw the preparation of 700 packs of bubur lambuk and bubur kacang.

He also led a goodwill visit to places of worship including mosques, temples, churches and shrines, to foster community engagement and distribute the food packs.

-- BERNAMA