Transparency Funds Needed To Avoid Cases Like Sandakan Bridge Suhakam

---

 


Suhakam has called on the Education Ministry and local authorities to work together so that scenes of children crossing a precarious bridge to get to school will become a thing of the past.
This came after reports of several students from SK Sibuga Besar in Sandakan, Sabah, who were seen crossing a dilapidated suspension bridge on their first day of school, went viral.
"This affirms the discovery during a recent monitoring visit in Sandakan that children living in deeper remote areas and those without documentation face difficulties in accessing proper mainstream education.
"We commend the action of the Sandakan Town Council and the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department for their coordinated and swift plans to assess the bridge for repair or reconstruction and hope that such efforts will be expedited further," Suhakam Children’s Commissioner Professor Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said in a statement today.
Following the viral report, Umno’s Sungai Manila assemblyperson Mokran Ingkat informed Malaysiakini that officers from the Public Works Department, as well as engineers from the Sandakan City Council, found the bridge to be unsafe and closed it for repairs.
Alternative measures 
With the announced closure of the bridge, Aziah said Suhakam hopes that alternative measures will be taken, such as the provision of free-of-charge boats to assist children in attending school. 
Suhakam called on the government, through the Public Works Department, to continually inspect and ensure roads, bridges, infrastructure and public facilities under its purview function safely, are in good working condition and are well-maintained at all times.
"Such facilities involve public and children’s lives and safety.
"Assessment and reconstruction efforts should not only be a reactive measure but must be proactive," Aziah added.
Suhakam Children’s Commissioner Professor Noor Aziah Mohd AwalSafe access to education 
She said that with the reopening of schools, the authorities must ensure that all children, especially in rural areas are able to access education, by providing them with the necessary aid including transportation and an enabling school environment that ensures their safety and security.
"The right of children to education is internationally recognised under Article 28(1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
"Fundamental to this right is the need under Article 28(1)(e) for states to implement measures that encourage regular attendance in school and to decrease drop-out rates," she added.
Suhakam also reiterated the need for the government to increase its allocations for improving children’s access to education.
"Transparent reporting on the use of the budget for that purpose must also be available.
"Providing schools alone would not suffice. Access to schools should also be made a priority," Aziah said. - Mkini

---