Built in 1958, SK Nanga Machan, Kanowit was established upon the initiative of the local community in that area.
“When SK Nanga Machan was established, it was built by the locals for the children in the area through community work (gotong-royong) using wood,”
“And then in the 1960s, the school was put under the Kanowit Council,” explained the headmaster of SK Nanga Machan, Julius Ceaser of the history of the school.
In mid-February, RAKAN Sarawak went on a trip to the school escorted by the Public Works Department (JKR), Sibu Division to have a look at the almost complete SK Nanga Machan.
As the team arrived in late afternoon, the students had completed their schooling session and are seen heading home while some headed back to the school hostel.
According to Julius, back then in 1979, the school had one two storeys building and two-unit living quarters for teachers.
Currently, among the building blocks in SK Nanga Machan includes 12 classes, a dining hall, kitchen, and hostels for students.
“As of now, the school has about 213 students, 25 pre-schoolers and 26 teachers,” said Julius who has been the headmaster of the school since 2015.
In 2020, SK Nanga Machan is among one of the schools in Sarawak that underwent construction for repair and/or restore as part of the RM1 billion fund for dilapidated schools in Sarawak, a program which was introduced in 2019.
As the school has been in existence for several decades while still maintaining its original façade, the school structure is unsafe and dangerous for students to use.
As the project is awarded to JKR, the department’s Sibu Division Office noted that the new school is estimated to be completed this year.
Background of SK Nanga Machan project:
Contract No: PWD/HO/B019/2020
Contract Sum: RM12, 687, 804.60
Contract Period (original period): 13 March 2020 – 12 March 2022 (24 months)
Revise completion date: 20 July 2022
Scope of work:
- One academic multi-storey block
- Two hostel blocks
- Four-unit quarters
- Two pump house blocks
- Exterior works and furniture
(Source: JKR Sibu Regional Office)
According to JKR Sibu Regional Office, apart from the new building blocks, the project also includes supplying furniture such as beds, study desks, chairs and wardrobe among others for the students.
Once completed, the old blocks will be demolished.
During the construction period, the school had to make some adjustments to accommodate the living and study arrangement of the students.
According to Julius, upon the announcement of re-opening of schools nationwide, SK Nanga Machan had to decrease the number of students living in the hostel due to the lack of space.
He added that as of now, priorities are given to those living far away from schools. However, once the new school including the hostel is unveiled, they can increase the number of students living in the hostel from 27 to 100 students.
“So, this means we can have about 50 female and 50 male students respectively occupying the school hostel,” he said.
Currently, the school is using the hall as classrooms where they are using make-up partitions, made by the locals and outside volunteers to divide the classrooms.
The existing class rooms on the other hand, are used as temporary student hostels.
Noting the excitement and anticipation of both students and their parents for the completion of their new school, Julius hopes that the students can have a conducive and comfortable learning environment once the new school is complete its construction.
