PASIR PUTEH: Contractors are unable to complete the construction of 16 new school buildings in Kelantan before the start of the 2010 school session on Jan 3, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said Dec 23.

He said the delay in the completion of these 14 secondary school buildings and two national school buildings had various consequences, including having to raise the density of students in each existing classroom.

This high density forced the students to study in discomfort and adversely affected their concentration on the lessons, he told reporters at the presentation of excellence service awards of the Bachok District Education Office, here.

It placed a burden on the teachers because they were unable to deliver their lessons more effectively when the number of students in a classroom exceeded 30, he said.

Dr Mohd Puad also said that the delay in completing the construction of school buildings forced the postponement of the plan to have single-session schools.

He said the ministry would blacklist the contractors who failed to complete the construction of school buildings on time.

Dr Mohd Puad said the ministry agreed, in principle, to rescheduling the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations in view of the schools which had to put up with frequent floods.

However, he added, it would be left to the School Management Division of the ministry to conduct a study on the matter.

"It is not an easy matter to reschedule examinations. An in-depth study has to be conducted on it," he said.

On the shortage of teachers next year, especially in the interior areas, he said the ministry would recruit more temporary teachers soon to overcome the problem.

He said the ministry considered the matter as grave because it could jeopardise the quality of education of children in the rural areas.- Bernama




 

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