Volunteers work together to set up the tables for the preschool and PPKI classrooms at SK Asyakirin.
BINTULU (Feb 15): Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) has come forward to restore the preschool and Special Education Integration Programme (PPKI) classrooms at SK Asyakirin here today.
Petronas Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu said SK Asyakirin was one of the schools that received recovery assistance from Petronas following the major floods that struck on Jan 29 this year.
To date, she said a total of 100 volunteers from Petronas and its subsidiaries – Malaysia LNG (MLNG), Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Assets), Asean Bintulu Fertilizer (ABF), Petronas Group Security, Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP), and the Petronas Alumni – took part in a community effort to install and replace new furniture at the school.
The Petronas Disaster Relief Programme – Post-Flood Recovery (School Recovery) – was also joined by representatives of the local media organisations.
“This is part of our post-flood assistance for schools in need,” added Norazibah.
She explained that in identifying the schools in need, discussions were held with the District Education Office (PPD) to determine the schools that were severely affected by the floods, and SK Asyakirin’s preschool and PPKI classrooms were among them.
The contributions include new furniture for the classrooms to restore the cheerful learning environment after they were hit by the floods.
“We hope that through this initiative, students returning to class on the first day of the new school session next week will enjoy the new classroom environment,” said Norazibah.
Despite the flood’s impact, she expressed hope that this effort would bring joy and motivation to the students as they return to school.
“At the beginning of the disaster, we also provided aid to flood victims and deployed our teams here and in Miri to offer assistance.
“This initiative was also carried out in Kuching, including Serian and Samarahan, through collaboration with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee and various divisions.
“We assisted in terms of providing facilities such as donating boats, supplying rental vans, and delivering essential aid including food baskets and hygiene kits to flood victims,” she added.
Furthermore, Norazibah said SK Asyakirin was the first school in Bintulu to receive the aid, and Petronas had plans, based on discussions with the PPD, to list other schools in need to receive similar assistance.
“We will identify the schools that are severely affected. In Miri, we will also assess the impacted schools as part of our post-flood assistance, focusing our efforts on Bintulu and Miri,” she explained.
Under this programme, Petronas donated new furniture worth RM70,000 and classroom essentials, including 90 desks and chairs for teachers and students, 33 plastic drawer cabinets, 15 floor mats, seven whiteboards, seven steel cabinets, five refrigerators, four steel racks, four rice cookers, and two units each of electric kettles, gas stoves, smart TVs, blenders, stand fans, and wall art materials.
SK Asyakirin’s preschool and PPKI programmes have a student population of 197, including 97 students with special needs.
Earlier, volunteers helped install new furniture, replacing damaged doors, and the reorganising classrooms and the teachers’ office.
In the flood incident on Jan 29, the ground floor of SK Asyakirin, housing the preschool and PPKI classrooms, was severely affected after parts of them were submerged for two days.
Many electrical appliances, furniture, and storybooks used for learning were damaged and destroyed by the floodwaters.
As part of their support, Petronas staff also donated used books and reading materials to the SK Asyakirin preschool library.
The post Petronas helps restore flood-damaged SK Asyakirin Bintulu preschool, special education classrooms appeared first on Borneo Post Online.
