Many pre-schools unable to reopen because of floods
Published on: Thursday, July 02, 2020
By:
Hayati Dzulkifli, Mardinah Jikur, Yayasan Dalimpos
The condition of SK Daingin that was severely affected by the flood, last week that need a huge cleanup.
PAPAR: Eighteen pre-schools in four districts in Sabah could not reopen on Wednesday as their buildings were severely affected by the recent floods and roads or routes heading to schools are still inundated.In all, 1,291 government pre-schools in primary schools, private pre-schools and under Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SKJC) in Sabah were scheduled to resume classes.
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State Education Director Dr Mistirine Radin said 412 pre-schoolers were unable to return to their 20 classrooms although the Education Ministry allowed pre-schools to start operating July 1.
She said nine pre-schools in Papar, four in Kota Belud, four in Beaufort and one in Tenom were struck by the heavy flood last Saturday which also affected primary schools.
“The schools are still cleaning their affected classrooms and buildings, while roads heading to two pre-schools namely SK Suasa and SK Jabang in Beaufort are still impassable.
“One remote school in Tenom, SK Inubai is still flooded plus the route heading to this school is not safe and its pre-school area is still in the process of cleaning,” she said, Wednesday.
Dr Mistirine (right) checking the damage of a table in one of the six classrooms at SK Daingin while Asmah looks on.
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She said at SK Daingin, here, 98 per cent of the school facilities were swept away including tables and chairs, books, teaching equipment and apparatus.
“I was rather shocked to see the condition of SK Daingin as the flood level reached five to 13 feet that also brought in mud, soil and big tree trunks. A booth for the security guard was also swept away.
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“The remaining two per cent that was left over are the classrooms and resource centre that are still solid. The classrooms, teachers’ room and centre are filled with thick mud and soil that would take more than a week to be cleared.
“I commended the 17 teachers of SK Daingin led by headmistress Asmah binti Salleh for their hard work and commitment to clean up the school,” Dr Mistirine said.
She was informed that the school was facing water supply problem which was affecting the cleaning up.
The Department will seek assistance from the Water Department and State Fire and Rescue Services Department to channel water for the purpose.
“I will bring in our Development Officer to see what are the things that can be immediately repaired.
“We will discuss with the Papar Education Office for ways to place 152 pupils of the school including the pre-schoolers,” she said.
She said even losses from the tables and chairs swept away involved hundreds of thousands Ringgit. She thanked a private financial institution, and a NGO for contributing some basic food and other items to the teachers who are busy cleaning up.
Twenty four soldiers and youths from a non-governmental are helping in the clean.
“The mud and soil in the six classrooms are very thick and one class needs more than a day to clear all the debris.
“We have started Phase 1 of the cleaning process since Tuesday and I am very pleased that all the teachers have come down to do the cleaning work.
“This is the worst flood ever the school had experienced since 2015,” she said.
“The way I look at some pre-schools today (Wednesday), there is nothing the parents should worry as I see the children are very discipline and following the existing SOP either in government or private schools,” she said.
In SANDAKAN, 256 government pre-school students attended their first session after it was closed nationwide throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
District Education Officer Dalmansa Tahil said the attendance rate was small compared to the number of pupils in the whole district.
“We know many parents are still worried about letting their children return to the school.
“We will keep on communicating with parents and will inform them of the necessary steps that the school will and has taken before and during the school session in particular on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP),” she said, after her visit to a pre-school at SK Sungai Padas.
Also present were the school’s Senior Curriculum Teacher, Susan Attau and the school’s Head, Junaidi Itting. Nine out of 25 students from two pre-school classes attended.
Sandakan has 41 government pre-schools with 73 classes while private pre-school is 31 and is expected to reopen on July 6. The total number of pre-school students in Sandakan is 1,763.
With regard to online learning apart from primary, so far it has surpassed the reach of 53 percent.
“We have a target of over 30 per cent and we have already achieved it.
“We have an alternative initiative for children who are not able to do so by sending them the learning materials,” she said adding that the broadband network coverage on 16 islands in the Sandakan area is currently inaccessible including five non-island schools which in total make up 21.
In KENINGAU, 57 pre-schools reopened. SK Bariawa Ulu Headmistress Lania Makajin said the school set SOP compliance for all students.
“It is necessary to check the temperature. Before they go in they need to wash their hands first using the sanitizer,” she said.
Sk Kg Keningau Headmistress Lea Leah Lewas said the SOP compliance is very important in ensuring student health.
“We provide face shield for students despite the fact that masks are not required by the Ministry for students as it only for teachers.
“Before students go back home, we will pick up the face shields and clean it so that the students can use it again the next day,” said Lea.
Meanwhile, the preschoolers were excited to return to school after a long break.
Nur Shahira Insyirah Masly, a student of SK Bariawa Ulu said it was fun to come back to class because there were teachers to teach and many friends to study together.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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