KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has revealed there are 1,311 dilapidated schools in Malaysia and 73 of them are categorised as "level 7", which is considered unsafe by the Public Works Department (JKR).

As for the remaining 1,238 schools, the ministry said they were categorised as "level 6", which is considered unsafe according to standards set by the technical staff of the district and state education departments.

Following that, the ministry said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, 134 dilapidated schools nationwide would undergo upgrading and redeveloping at a total cost of RM994.272 million.

As for upgrading and redeveloping projects approved under the recent 12MP, the Education Ministry said 104 dilapidated schools will be upgraded at a total cost of RM1.004 billion. 

"The estimated cost expected to be involved in upgrading and redeveloping dilapidated buildings in 1,311 schools is RM15.077 billion.

"However, the implementation of this project is subject to the approval of the central agency and the current financial position of the government," the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply.

The ministry said this in response to Oscar Ling (Pakatan Harapan-Sibu) who asked on the number of dilapidated schools that have been repaired in 2020 and 2021 as well as the total costs involved in the projects.