Sebuyau assemblyman Julaihi Narawi, who visited SMK Sebuyau on Saturday, said he had approved the use of canopies to provide space to the teachers and students for their various activities.

“The space in this tent is immensely valuable while waiting for the commencement of construction for the new school building,” he said in a Facebook post.

Julaihi, who is state utility and communications minister, added that SMK Sebuyau was among the dilapidated schools in Sarawak chosen for relocation to a new site.

“The new location at Bandar Baru Sebuyau has long been identified. I have frequently raised concerns about the school’s poor condition, which still accommodates nearly 1,000 students.”

He also expressed sympathy for the teachers and students at SMK Sebuyau, who are forced to use inadequate facilities compared with those in more modern schools.

According to Julaihi, the new site for the school had been long approved by the education ministry.

“The delay from the education ministry is causing the holdup. Although the approval was given over 10 years ago, there has been no progress,” he said.

Earlier this month, education minister Fadhlina Sidek revealed that 555 schools in Sarawak are classified as dilapidated, with efforts under way to address the issue.

She said that as of June this year, 361 of the schools require significant repairs, while 194 need complete rebuilding.