Bright start for over 2,000 students in 13 schools

KUCHING: The new academic year saw a brighter start for over 2,000 students in 13 secondary and primary schools which were connected to the grid under Phase One of the Rural School Electricity Supply initiative, displacing diesel-run generators that the schools were dependent on.
Eight of these schools provide boarding facilities.
The first of the schools under Phase One of this initiative are SK Salak in Kuching; 10 schools in Kanowit 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; SK Metalun at the Murum Resettlement Scheme in Belaga district and SMK Tinjar in Baram.
"With access to secure and reliable 24-hour electricity supply, the schools are installing additional fans, lightings and other electrical equipment to create a more conducive learning and working environment for students and staff," said Sarawak Minister for Utilities, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
He said children in rural schools should have the same access to reliable 24-hour electricity supply like their urban counterparts.
Rundi said the Rural School Electricity Supply initiative aimed to extend the grid or provide renewable solar systems to 369 rural schools in various phases under a partnership with the Education Ministry, Sarawak Ministry of Utilities, State Education Department, State Public Works Department and Sarawak Energy.
"The RM9 million invested under Phase One is a strong and very worthwhile investment for the future prospects of our rural schoolchildren," he said, adding that subsequent phases of the initiative would cover the remaining schools in the state which still relied on noisy and expensive diesel-run generators.
Sarawak Energy group chief executive officer, Sharbini Suhaili said it was Sarawak Energy's aim to work with the government to provide greater access to electricity for all rural schools in the state, so as to create a conducive learning environment.
Apart from lighting up the rural schools, he said Sarawak Energy was also working with the Health Ministry to light up 60 rural health clinics in stages.
He said these initiatives were on top of the ongoing rural electrification exercise to light up rural homes, aimed at propelling Sarawak towards achieving full electrification by 2025.
"The simultaneous implementation of these initiatives will speed up the government's electrification plan, catalysing rural development to close the gap between rural and urban communities.
"It is also to enable the state's digital economy agenda to reach the rural communities to help realise Sarawak's vision to become a developed state by 2030," he added.
Rural electrification in Malaysia began to accelerate in 2009 when it was made a National Key Result Area by the federal government. — Bernama