Kota Kinabalu: Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sembulan received a boost with the completion of a covered waiting area and an upgraded pedestrian walkway funded through the parliamentary allocation of Putatan Member of Parliament Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya.
The Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG) and the school community expressed their appreciation for the initiative, which aims to enhance safety, accessibility and comfort for students, parents and the surrounding community.
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PIBG chairman Salleh Dualin said the newly constructed covered waiting area provides a more conducive and sheltered space for preschool and Special Education Integrated Programme (PPKI) students to carry out outdoor learning activities and physical education, while also serving as a designated waiting place for parents and guardians during school dismissal.
He said the upgraded pedestrian walkway has brought significant benefits not only to students and parents, but also to members of the public, particularly residents of Kampung Sembulan who use the route daily.
It has increased safety and confidence among students who walk to school, while parents are no longer required to wait or walk along the roadside, which previously posed accident risks due to shared use with passing vehicles.
“The impact has been very positive, especially in terms of safety and peace of mind for parents sending and collecting their children from school,” he said.
The improvement works were carried out amid longstanding concerns over student safety and accessibility at the school, particularly for preschool and PPKI pupils who require a safer and more structured environment.
Prior to the upgrade, limited shelter and narrow pathways forced students and parents to remain close to traffic during peak school hours.
The project forms part of broader efforts to enhance basic infrastructure at public schools, especially in urban and semi-urban areas facing rising enrolment, with a focus on inclusive education and community safety.
However, Salleh said the school continues to face a shortage of desks and chairs due to the annual increase in student enrolment, and expressed hope that the matter will receive further attention in the future.
