computer lab fiasco

Computer Lab Fiasco

March 2003

More than 1,200 computer lab project were deemed unsafe!

The issue of unsafe school computer rooms was triggered in March 2003

when the roof of the building in Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Rentam,

Kuantan collapsed.

The then Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad ordered investigation

and later revealed that 1,200 computer laboratories nationwide were

deemed unsafe due to shoddy workmanship.

15th May 2004, NSTP

Not much has changed since the disasterious state of school computer

laboratories grabbed the headline one year ago.

"I have heard about this issues before being appointed as the

Education Minister, but never had I imagined that it could be this

serious," said Hishamuddin Hussein Onn.

"I am sad and embarrassed that as the Minister who is responsible for

this matter, schools in my own constituency are still facing this

problem."

"I can't imagine what the situation is in other parts of the country."

It was shocking to know the shoddy workmanship of the building were so

extensive that in some cases repairs were still going on for more than

6 months.

The computer laboratory at the school was found to be useless after it

was discovered that the contractor had failed to notice it was built

on top of a main water pipe.

The PWD was ordered to take over the construction of the computer

laboratories. The decision to get PWD to complete the remaining works

was due to the various roof collapse.

Works Minister, Samy Vellu said that 574 computer laboratories for

primary and secondary schools in Pahang, Trengganu and Kelantan were

unsafe and in dangerous conditions.

PWD district engineers nationwide had been directed to submit reports

on the state of each school computer lab in their areas within a

month. The reports were to include the safety aspects, who the

contractors were, and the dates which delayed projects could be

completed. The report must also include information on who was

responsible for monitoring the project at each school.

The government terminated the service of the contractor and consultant

as both were found to be completely at fault for delay and shoddy

workmanship and poor materials.

To-date, nothing was reported and no actions taken against those