PASIR MAS, Dec 12 — The Education Ministry (MOE) will introduce new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing schools at risk of flooding, starting next year.
Its secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi said the new SOPs will focus on relocating essential areas, including teachers' rooms, laboratories, and textbook storage rooms, to higher floors of schools, to protect them from flood damage.
Classrooms on lower floors will be outfitted with flood-resistant materials like plastic, to minimise damages in the event of a flood disaster.
"From my visits to flood-affected schools, I realised that we need to plan ahead. The new SOPs will help reduce the repair and replacement costs following such disasters.
"During my visit to SMK Meranti today, I discovered that the teachers' rooms were completely destroyed, and the replacement cost could reach tens of thousands. Our goal is to reduce these costs by implementing these measures. I will present this proposal to the ministry for broader application to all schools at risk of flooding," he said.
Ruji was speaking to the press after visiting SMK Meranti, accompanied by Kelantan Education Department (JPN) director Datuk Mohd Zamri Abdul Aziz.
Previously, news reports highlighted that SMK Meranti, located nearly three kilometres from the Sungai Golok basin, was one of the schools in Kelantan severely impacted by the first wave of floods at the end of last month.
In a related development, Ruji said the JPN, District Education Offices (PPDs), and the principals of affected schools have been instructed to submit immediate reports on the extent of the damage, and losses incurred.
"We aim to ensure that the teaching and learning process is not disrupted by the floods. We have asked the PPDs and JPN to expedite procurement processes to address the damage.
"We are equipped with facilities for emergency procurement, including construction work and the purchase of necessary equipment. We are prioritising the procurement of equipment, which we expect to be completed by the end of January at the latest," he said.
— Bernama
