Minister Mustapha Sakmud demands immediate action on Sabah’s dilapidated schools, calling for social justice through safe, dignified learning environments as part of a national education transformation.

KOTA KINABALU: Resolving the issue of dilapidated schools in Sabah is an urgent necessity, not an option, to provide students with first-class education, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pix).

He stated that social justice under the Malaysia MADANI framework means closing the rural infrastructure gap by ensuring every school has complete, safe and dignified basic facilities.

“Quality education begins with a perfect learning environment,” Mustapha said in his keynote address at the Malaysia MADANI Nationhood Seminar here today.

READ MORE: Sabah to upgrade 300 dilapidated schools, focusing on safety

He added that the 2026-2035 education transformation is a shared responsibility, not the ministry’s alone.

Mustapha outlined three main calls for shared responsibility to drive this change for children’s future.

He urged everyone to become ‘Ambassadors of the Education Vision’ and explain the transformation’s importance to colleagues, parents and the community.

“Secondly, we must apply an innovative mindset,” he said, advising against waiting for top-down instructions before beginning to change.

Thirdly, he emphasised maintaining MADANI synergy and continuing collaboration between academics and community drivers.

“No matter how great a planning document is, it remains meaningless without high-spirited drivers to make it a success,” Mustapha added.

Within the RPM 2026-2035 framework, he said Technical and Vocational Education and Training must be positioned as the heartbeat of the country’s future economy.

“TVET graduates are the backbone of the nation’s progress, driving national innovation and productivity,” he concluded.

 The Sun Malaysia