Ministry Anticipates High Costs to Repair Flood-Damaged Schools in Sabah and Sarawak
Flood-Affected Schools: A Worry for Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education (MOE) expects the total cost of repairing schools and premises damaged by floods in Sabah and Sarawak to be very high. Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that initial assessments by the ministry indicate a large number of schools and ministry premises have been affected by the recent floods.
Assessing the Costs
"There are many places we never expected to flood, especially in locations that have never experienced flooding before. Some of our schools have suffered ‘total loss,’ and we are currently identifying all affected MOE premises, as well as assessing the costs involved," she said. "We expect the costs to be very high because initial monitoring shows that a large number of premises have been impacted. That is why I mentioned earlier that there are places we never anticipated to flood. This makes our preparation even more crucial, as we only have one week left before the school term begins."
Cleanup Efforts Underway
The minister also highlighted the efforts being made to clean up the flood-affected schools, stating that the process is crucial to ensure students can return to face-to-face learning. "When we say a school has suffered ‘total loss,’ it means that even the furniture is unusable, and the building itself is damaged, which will take some time to repair. Right now, we are conducting all necessary assessments," she said.
Online Learning to the Rescue
For flood-affected schools unable to reopen on time, the minister said online learning will be implemented, with teachers already prepared with online learning materials and activity modules. "We want to ensure that our students do not fall behind, and online learning will help us achieve this goal," she added.
Flood Situation in Sabah and Sarawak
As of today, 695 individuals from 189 families remain in temporary evacuation centers (PPS) in Sabah, while in Sarawak, 3,921 people are housed in 21 PPS. The floods have been ongoing since the end of last month, and the ministry is working closely with relevant authorities to provide assistance to those affected.
Conclusion
In light of the flood situation, the Ministry of Education is working diligently to assess the damage and develop a plan to repair and rebuild the affected schools. While the costs are expected to be high, the ministry is committed to ensuring that students in Sabah and Sarawak do not fall behind in their education.
FAQs
- What is the expected cost of repairing schools and premises damaged by floods in Sabah and Sarawak?
The Ministry of Education expects the total cost to be very high, with initial monitoring showing a large number of premises impacted. - How many schools have been affected by the floods?
The number of schools affected is large, with some suffering "total loss" and others partially damaged. - What is being done to ensure students do not fall behind in their education?
Online learning will be implemented for flood-affected schools unable to reopen on time, with teachers already prepared with online learning materials and activity modules. - How many people are still in temporary evacuation centers (PPS) in Sabah and Sarawak?
In Sabah, 695 individuals from 189 families remain in PPS, while in Sarawak, 3,921 people are housed in 21 PPS.