KUCHING: More than 2,000 students in Sarawak can soon study in a more conducive environment in schools, thanks to the rural school electricity supply initiative.
State Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the government had invested RM9 million in the first phase of the initiative.
“The RM9 million invested
under phase one of the initiative is a worthwhile investment in the future prospects of rural schoolchildren.
“Subsequent phases of the initiative will cover the remaining schools in the state that rely on noisy and expensive diesel generators,” he said.
SEB Group chief executive officer Sharbini Suhaili said the company planned to work with the government to provide electricity to all rural schools in Sarawak.
Through this initiative, he said, SEB aimed to create a conducive learning environment for students.
“Apart from lighting up the rural schools, we are also working with the Health Ministry to provide electricity to 60 rural clinics in stages.
“These initiatives are on top of the rural electrification exercise to light up rural domestic households, aimed to help Sarawak achieve full electrification by 2025.
“The simultaneous implementation of these initiatives will speed up the government’s electrification plan, close the gap between rural and urban communities, and enable the state’s digital economic agenda to help Sarawak to become a
developed state by 2030,” he said.
Among the schools that will benefit from the first phase of the project include SK Salak in Kuching, SK Metalun at the Murum Resettlement Scheme in the Belaga District and SMK Tinjar in Baram.
Other schools in Kanowit were also selected, namely SK Sungai Tuah, SK Nanga Jih, SK Nanga Dap, SK Ulu Bawan, SK Ng Balingiau, SK Nanga Tada, SK Nanga Pedai, SJK (C) Shing Kok, SJK (C) Nam Hua and SMK Nanga DAP.
Rural electrification started to accelerate in 2009 when it was made a National Key Result Area (NKRA) by the Federal Government.