As a result, some 800 students have to attend classes in 12 makeshift tents with the commencement of the new school term today.

The students are also exposed to discomfort, and possible danger, in the present rainy season.

Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee told FMT two of the three school buildings at SK Pekan Telup, 200km from here, were damaged in a storm on June 17.

The two buildings housed eight classrooms.

Fortunately, the incident happened on a Sunday when no children were around. The only other damage was to a teacher’s car parked nearby.

Kiandee criticised the ministry for failing to repair the damaged buildings in time for the new school year despite being informed of the incident earlier.

Expressing shock that the ministry had not taken advantage of the long holidays to finish the repairs, he said: “Money for the project could have come from the ministry’s emergency fund without the need for open tenders.

“It is unacceptable that the ministry has failed to resolve this problem, more than six months after it happened.”

Kiandee said similar problems in Peninsular Malaysia would have been attended to before the start of the new school year.

“Why can’t it be done here, too? It is unfair for the ministry to treat rural schools this way.”

A representative of the school said a contractor had been appointed to carry out the repairs.

However, she said the work had been slow although it had been scheduled for completion much earlier.

In the meantime, classes will continue in the 12 makeshift tents until the repairs are completed.