KOTA KINABALU: Infrastructure maintenance and upgrading works on Sabah schools are expected to be handled in a proactive way from now on, instead of the previous ad hoc approach.

       State Education Department director Datuk Mistirine Radin (pic) said this followed the launch of a five-year infrastructure development plan aimed at overseeing these matters.

       She said education-related issues will also be addressed more systematically with better planning through this initiative, which runs until 2026.

       “This plan is coordinated together with the Planning and Education policy research division of the Education Ministry,” she said during the department’s monthly gathering for Sandakan, Beluran, Telupid dan Kinabatangan on Thursday (April 14).

       “There will also be plans to relocate students from overcrowded schools to less crowded ones if there are any available near them,” she added.

       She said for these plans to work, the department will focus on high-impact results as the guide for all its strategies.

       During the event, Mistirine presented a certificate to a special needs student who won three gold medals in a recent national paralympics event in Kuala Lumpur last month.

       Wahyu Eqwal, a Primary Six pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Merpati, Sandakan, won the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke swimming events.

       “Being born without both hands did not stop him from achieving his dreams,” she said.

       Wahyu is also talented in art, she added.

       “The Education Department will continue to help every student regardless of physical condition to pursue their dreams and go beyond what they think they can achieve,” Mistirine said.