Deputy Education Minister Senator Chong Sin Woon said these schools were more than 20 years old.

“Most of the fires which broke out did not start in the schools’ laboratories or because of inadequacies in safety measures such as the absence of fire hazard doors. They were mostly caused by short circuits.

“As such, the ministry is focusing on rewiring the electrical system in old schools, especially those in old buildings,” he said at the Senate here today.

Chong was replying to a question from Senator Lihan Jok on the main causes of fires in several schools in Sarawak and what the government was doing to resolve the problem.

He said the electrical rewiring would be implemented in stages beginning next year, with priority given to schools in critical condition.

He said in order to prevent fires, all schools would be equipped with fire extinguishers and staff given training and exposure to fire prevention efforts.