SIBU, The long-awaited dream of the Selangau community for a new secondary school is set to become a reality with the commencement of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Selangau construction project. The school will be built on an 8.9-hectare plot of land, 79km from here, and will accommodate 400 students. "This school project costs over RM81 million, with a 35-month timeline and a completion date set for June 14, 2027," said Tamin state assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang. Speaking after a ceremonial event at the project site today, Gira said the school will have 18 classrooms, male and female student dormitories, 20 teacher's quarters, a dining hall, laboratories, and sports courts. He noted that Selangau has over 20 primary schools, and students moving on to the secondary level have to attend SMK Ulu Balingian or SMK Luar Bandar No. 1, which are located 28 km and 65km away, respectively. Gira expressed his gratitude to the federal government for responding to the pleas of the Selangau residents. M eanwhile, headman Busang Bedindang, representing the people of Selangau, also conveyed his appreciation to the federal government for initiating the project, which will significantly benefit the community. 'We have been waiting for this school to be built for a long time. Now, our children will have better access to secondary education, and parents will no longer have to send their children to schools far away,' he said. Source: BERNAMA News Agency