KUDAT, May 11, 2026: A statement by Sabah Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Datuk James Ratib, claiming that there are no longer any dilapidated schools in Sabah has been described as too narrow and not reflective of the actual state of education in the state.
WARISAN Wira Vice Chief, Khairuddin Daud, said the government should not assess educational issues solely based on the physical condition of school buildings while the problem of school dropouts in Sabah remains worrying, particularly in rural areas and remote islands.
According to him, educational issues in Sabah should not be viewed only from the perspective of infrastructure development because many children in the state still face difficulties in continuing their education.
“The education problem in Sabah is not merely about school buildings. The more alarming reality is that many students are still dropping out due to poverty, long distances to schools, transportation problems, and weak internet access,” he said in a media statement today.
He said the state government needs to be more honest and realistic in assessing the actual state of education in Sabah because the main challenge today is ensuring that every student remains in the education system until completing their schooling.
He added that Sabah remains among the states receiving special attention in addressing the issue of student dropouts, especially in rural and interior areas.
“The state government should not be too comfortable with the narrative that there are no more dilapidated schools when the real educational challenges are still haunting thousands of students in Sabah.
“It is not enough to merely have beautiful school buildings if many students still fail to remain in the education system,” he said.
Khairuddin said Sabah’s education agenda should focus on reducing student dropout rates, improving access to education in rural areas, providing transportation assistance and student hostels, as well as enhancing internet connectivity for learning.
He added that education is not merely about infrastructure, but about the future of Sabah’s children who deserve fair and comprehensive educational opportunities.
