Its deputy president, Dr Maximus Ongkili said teacher absenteeism was rampant in Sabah's rural schools and regretted that no action had been taken against the teachers involved.

Dr Ongkili was participating in the debate at the committee stage on the Supplementary Supply Bill 1999 (No. 4) allocation for the Ministry of Education in parliament this morning.

"We have received numerous reports from parents of students in rural schools that many teachers including principals are absent from classes for weeks in a given month.

"The explanation given was that they had to attend meetings in the towns but the problem continues for months especially in such schools as SK Magandai, SK Gana and SK Tagibang in Tandek. Why can't the ministry take action against such teachers?" he asked.

Stressing that the problem occurred in other districts, the Bandau member of parliament urged the government to solve the issue once and for all in order to improve the conditions of rural schools.

On upgrading of school facilities, Ongkili requested the Ministry to specify the criteria used in upgrading primary schools to secondary status, arguing that in the past such upgrading was questionable in terms of location, population concentration and basic infrastructure.

He cited the specific case of SK Ongkilan in Tandek which had been upgraded to a secondary school (SMK), "regarded by many as wrongly located as the bulk of the student population come from SM Mosolog and SK Talantang and therefore better deserve the upgrading."

Ongkili reminded the government to continue upgrading school facilities in the rural areas, stressing that while town schools were being upgraded in status remote schools were often left behind in terms of financial priorities.