The construction of additional classrooms using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) is expected to help ease overcrowding in schools while allowing special-purpose rooms to return to their original use.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said some schools have been forced to turn facilities such as music rooms and laboratories into temporary classrooms due to a lack of space. With additional classrooms being built, these rooms can once again be used for the purposes they were designed for.
Wong shared the update after he visited Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Merdeka in Melaka on 8th September.
53 Melaka Schools Benefit from Additional Classrooms
According to Wong, 53 school in Melaka have benefited from the construction of additional classrooms using IBS. Of these, 49 schools have more than 35 students in each class. Three schools in the Kesidang state constituency, SK Malim, SK Taman Merdeka and SK Tengkera 1, have received a total allocation of RM3.3 million to build 11 additional classrooms.
Construction at the three schools in currently around 40 per cent complete and is expected to be finished by December 2026, before the 2027 school session started.
MOE Prepares for Double-Cohort Year One Intake
Wong also provided an update on preparations for the double-cohort intake for Year One in 2027. So far, 416,632 pupils from the 7-year-old cohort have registered, along with 73,487 pupils from 6-year-old-cohort
To prepare for the larger intake, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken several steps to ensure there are enough teachers. These include placing Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) graduates, appointing reserve candidates for subjects facing teacher shortages and recruiting teachers under the Contract of Service (COS) scheme.
A total of 3,150 teachers have already been appointed and are ready to be placed in schools based on future needs.
Schools Have Clear Guidelines During Haze
Wong also addressed concerns over the haze and said MOE has clear guidelines based on their Air Pollutant Index (API)
If the API reading rises above 100, all outdoors school activities will be suspended. If it exceeds 200, schools will be closed and learning will be online. Wong said the ministry understands parents concerns about their children’s health. Parents who are still worried about the haze can choose not to send their children to school.
With new classrooms being built and preparations underway for the 2027 intake, the ministry hopes to provide schools with enough space and teaching supporter to better meet the needs of pupils.
Sources: Bernama
