LAWAS: A new student dormitory block and four additional teacher quarter units have been built for Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Merapok here.
The opening of the new school facilities was officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who was here to attend the Ulu Merapok Zone Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri celebration recently.
The event, organised by the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) at the Ulu Merapok Service Centre, brought together more than 450 local residents and community leaders.
The SK Ulu Merapok upgrading project is part of a rural education infrastructure development initiative by NRDA under the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA).
Awang Tengah stressed that although education is the jurisdiction of the federal government, the Sarawak government also does its part.
“That is why we have allocated RM160 million under the NRDA for the improvement of schools and educational infrastructure in Limbang and Lawas, because we cannot wait too long.
“We use our own funds for many projects,” he said.
He urged heads of departments and agencies to provide input in the project planning process, including proposals to move SK Ulu Merapok to a safer location since the existing area is frequently hit by floods.
At the same event, he also called on Lawas residents to take advantage of facilities, such as the Mini Service Centre and the CENTEXS Complex, which are there to help local entrepreneurs market their products and students improve their skills.
Meanwhile, NRDA Director, Datuk Ubaidillah Abdul Latif, said the implementation of this project is not just about providing new facilities, but reflects the Sarawak government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring access to quality education even in remote areas.
“This project will provide a more conducive and comfortable learning environment for students, as well as increase the morale of teachers serving in Ulu Merapok,” he said.
He also informed that SK Ulu Merapok is among five schools in the Lawas area that are being upgraded, the others being SK Kampung Seberang, SK Merapok, SMK Merapok and SK Kuala Lawas.
So far, he explained, a total of 161 development projects have been coordinated by NRDA in Limbang and Lawas, with 69 per cent of them fully completed.
