Noor Aziah said she was saddened by a news report of students in the Sandakan district who had to cross a dilapidated suspension bridge on their first day of school at Kampung Nelayan Tengah.

She said the report affirmed her discovery during a recent monitoring visit in Sandakan that children living in remote areas and those without documentation suffer a lack of access to mainstream education.

“Providing schools alone will not be enough, access to schools should also be made a priority,” she said in a statement today.

“With both these factors, I am confident that Malaysia will be able to further align itself towards the goals of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs).”

On Monday, a Bernama photograph of students crossing a dilapidated bridge on their way to school went viral and generated an outpouring of sympathy and concern. Those who commented pointed out how the students exposed themselves to danger every time they used the bridge.

Following the report, the public works department (JKR) and the Sandakan municipal council ordered for the bridge to be closed over safety concerns. Sabah works minister Bung Moktar Radin subsequently ordered the council to repair the bridge.

With the bridge under repair, Noor Aziah expressed hope that an alternative, such as free boats, would be used to help the children go to school.

She urged JKR to ensure that infrastructure and public facilities under its purview were safe and well-maintained at all times.

“The right of children to education is internationally recognised under Article 28(1) of the CRC. Fundamental to this right is the need for states to implement measures that encourage regular attendance in school and to reduce drop-out rates.

“The importance of education is further emphasised in Goal 4 of the UN’s SDGs, which highlights the need for states to ensure equitable education for all,” Noor Aziah said.