Open classrooms for incomplete school

Even though playing fields in schools are built for sports activities, it is a different case for a vernacular school in Kota Tinggi, Johor, as teachers are forced to take lessons on the open field.

SRJK (T) Ladang Nam Heng has been left incomplete ever since November last year after the school’s Indonesian contractor demanded more money in order to complete construction at a new block.

The partially complete school, which has 37 students, is now devoid of classrooms for Standard 5 and Standard 6 students, and also lacks a proper canteen.

“We tried our best to raise enough money through donations, but were later told that more funds are needed,” said the school’s parents teacher association (PIBG) head V. Subramaniam.

The initial price quoted by the contractor was RM 35,000, which the PIBG had managed to raise.

When the contractor demanded more money, which the PIBG were unable to provide, he had abandoned the project altogether.

“The situation is bad enough now that the canteen is also part of a classroom,” he said, referring to the fact that the school’s canteen was set up in a classroom compound.

“We asked for fund from the government for the canteen, but they refused on the basis that the school doesn’t have many students,” he added.

According to Subramaniam, they had also approached the government for financial aid. Though the latter had promised funds, they are yet to be delivered to the school’s representatives.

Professional contractor Rajan Pillai, who was approached by the school’s representative to help complete the construction, believes that the school needs to least an additional RM 20,000 to be complete.

“I believe it needs between RM20,000 to RM25,000,” he said.

“Whoever takes up this project should not only look at the value money. The safety of the children is more important,” he added.