All schools affected by floods to reopen on Jan 2, except for four in Pahang

PUTRAJAYA: All schools affected by the north-east monsoon floods or made into temporary evacuation centres will operate again on Tuesday (Jan 2) except for four primary schools in Pahang that will undergo home-based teaching and learning.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that as of 8pm on Monday (1 Jan), 161 educational institutions comprising 136 primary schools, 24 secondary schools, and one Permata centre were affected by the floods from Nov 11 last year up to Monday (Jan 1).

The overall figures showed an increase in the number of educational institutions affected by the floods as of 4pm on Monday, from 157 educational institutions, with 133 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and one Permata centre.

She added that eight states were involved; Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Perak.

“As of 8pm on Monday, the flood dashboard report from the ministry indicates that the flooding has affected nine primary and two secondary schools in Pahang and Sarawak,” said Fadhlina.

“A primary school located in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, continues to serve as a temporary evacuation centre, where two students are currently enrolled in the centre,” she added during a special media conference in Putrajaya on Tuesday (Jan 2).

She then said that the ministry also estimates the damage incurred by educational institutions due to the floods to exceed RM1mil.

Fadhlina said initial reports involved damage to furniture, fences, physical buildings and immovable assets in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

"Estimates of the damage to educational institutions are being collected, and the State Education Department and District Education Office have taken appropriate measures to ensure that schools can operate," she said.

Meanwhile, the education minister also added that the ministry had made takaful claims for students who were reported to have drowned in Kelantan.

"The takaful claim of RM5,500 per person will be handed to the victim's family.

"Schools affected by floods and that have been converted into temporary evacuation centres will be given assistance of RM2,000 by Yayasan Guru Tun Hussein Onn," she said.

As for preparations made for public examinations, Fadhlina said 4,058 candidates will sit for the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) on Tuesday.

"As of 2pm yesterday, no candidates were in temporary evacuation centres due to the flood," she said.

Fadhlina also said one candidate sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams which start on Monday (Jan 8), is still in a temporary evacuation centre in Johor.

"As of yesterday, no candidates sitting for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) exams were in the temporary evacuation centre, and the exams will be administered by the Malaysian Examinations Council starting Jan 9," she added.