MIRI: The federal government has approved the construction of two blocks of building for boarding students of high-performing school SK Ulu Lubai in Limbang and will consider other requests for other infrastructure upgrading.

The state government is also push for the upgrading of a block of classroom, teachers staffroom and resource room to overcome the frequent flooding at the school built by the riverbank.

Minister in charge of Intensive Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Office, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, during a visit yesterday, approved the construction of the buildings which could accommodate 30 boys and 30 girls each.

He was joined by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Paulu Gumbang and his Bukit Kota counterpart Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.

Idris said SK Lubai had in common with two other top schools in the country – SK Seri Damansara and Sk Taman Megah in Kuala Lumpur – in having a good headmaster, excellent parents’ involvement, good teachers and hardworking students gunning for excellence.

“All these high performing schools have all these four attributes, but I consider SK Ulu Lubai the best,” he said.
Jabu, who also spoke, said he was keen to replicate SK Ulu Lubai’s success throughout the state, particularly for rural schools.

He brought along three Iban intellectuals and PhD holders to study the systems, methodology and co-curricular activities of this top-notch school

On the issue of frequent flooding at the school, he said he would l laise with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, on overcoming the problem.

Two blocks of building including a four-classroom block, staff room and resource room are affected by flooding six or seven times annually. The school and parents have appealed to the government to address the issue.

Tucked in the jungle at the farthest reaches of Lubai River about 55km from Limbang, the school is accessible by an abandoned logging road, river and by foot. It is the first school from interior to be recognised for its academic excellence.

Muhyiddin, in bestowing the High Performing School Award in February 2011, said SK Ulu Lubai proved that any school could achieve academic excellence.

The school also has an impressive international links by forming networks with University of Bristol, Kingsford Community School and Deptford Green School in UK and Jin Shan Primary School of Singapore in 2009-2010.

Meanwhile, Jabu announced a RM28,000 grant for SK Ulu Lubai Parents-Teachers Association; compresing RM20,000 from himself, while Paulus and Dr Rahman chipped in RM5,000 and RM3,000, respectively.