Education ministry launches first phase of lockers for 600 schools

The education ministry today launched the first phase of lockers as part of initiatives to tackle the issue of heavy school bags for students at the primary level, especially Standard One to Three. 

Education Minister Radzi Jidin said the first phase implemented this year would only involve students at Level One, that is in Standard One and Two. 

He said a total of 626 two-session schools were involved, with a total of 249,646 lockers and students benefitting from their installation. 

"The initiative was announced in March, and today, we are launching one of the largest efforts by the ministry to supply lockers to these schools," he said at the launching ceremony at SK Gombak Setia in Kuala Lumpur. 

Also present at the event was International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali. 

Radzi said the first phase of locker installation would cost RM37.3 million, with the second phase to commence next year for students in Standard Three to Six. 

"We will complete the installations in October," he added.

"There are five schools with lockers that have been fully installed, and the remaining 33 schools will join them by the end of the month." 

Radzi also said that the ministry had outlined six other regulations to address the problem at hand: the reorganisation of timetables, the number of exercise books needed, the use of activity and student workbooks, the introduction of digital textbooks, the implementation of teaching and learning, and collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia or Jakim. 

When asked who would be responsible for ensuring that students are no longer burdened with heavy bags after the installation of lockers, Radzi said this would require the cooperation of all quarters, including parents who would have to monitor the contents of their children's bags.

He did not rule out the possibility that officals at state education offices would be called to monitor the use of lockers at schools as well, to ensure that all parties including teachers, parents and children can enjoy the optimum use of the locker facilities.