Kota Kinabalu: Most flood-hit schools in Sabah have resumed classes, but authorities are now facing a new challenge - providing psychological support to students who lost parents and siblings in the disaster.
“This is the first time natural disaster victims include children who have lost their family members. We immediately deployed counsellors to approach them,” State Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin told a media conference at Wisma Jabatan Pendidikan in Likas, here, Friday.
“We extend our condolences to all families of victims who lost their lives in the tragedy. This grief is felt by every Malaysian. May the families involved be given strength and patience in facing this test,” he said.
The tragedy has prompted the Education Ministry to deploy Smart Support Teams and Academic Support Teams to temporary relief centres, providing mental health support to traumatised students and their families.
The specialist teams comprise trained volunteer counselling teachers who focus on psychological support, while Academic Support Teams ensure students do not fall behind in their studies.
“Our team, which included Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and me, did a two-day working visit since Wednesday to personally inspect the situation at the educational institutions impacted by the floods and landslides.
“These include SK Lago, SK Kampung Brunei, SK Pengiran Jaya, SM St Michael and SMK Limbanak in Penampang which are frequently hit by floods,” he said.
The floods damaged 78 educational institutions, affecting 68 primary schools and 10 secondary schools.
“These include those with cut-off access,” he said.
Beaufort was hit hardest with 35 schools affected, followed by Papar (20), Penampang (six), Nabawan, Keningau, Sipitang and Tenom (three each), Tambunan (two) and Kota Belud (one).
“Today, together with Fadhlina at the SK Mook relief centre, we provided counselling services to parents and students. This is very important for their socio-emotional needs,” Raisin said.
Additionally, he said, clean-up operations are ongoing with help from volunteers from the Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia (IPGM).
“About 50 per cent of affected schools have been cleaned up,” he said.
He said the Tabung Pendidikan Negeri Sabah provided cash assistance to 50 flood-hit schools on Thursday.
“Emergency aid of RM300 per eligible student was distributed through the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin,” he said.
For students still in relief centres, the Ministry is ensuring education continues.
“Students affected have returned to school. Only a few remain in relief centres. As usual, if students are still in relief centres, we will send learning modules for them,” Raisin said.
Teachers are also deployed to relief centres to prevent students from falling behind in their studies.
On the IPGM Gaya Campus impacted by landslides affecting the water pump house and access roads to academic blocks, Raisin said buildings C, D and the back section of Block E are no longer in use.
“All students have been contacted and are currently attending online classes. The institute is looking to rent nearby lecture halls as a short-term solution,” he said.
On emergency protocols during flood warnings, Raisin pointed out the importance of weather monitoring and parent awareness.
“We need to get information from meteorology about current conditions. If parents know the weather does not permit, it is better not to send children to school as it could have bad effects during the journey,” he said.
He said they will continue to monitor the situation closely with the Ministry while working on long-term solutions, including slope protection works and new infrastructure proposals under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
For the record, the recent floods and landslides claimed 14 lives. Seven people died when a hillside collapsed at Kampung Cenderakasih in Inanam, four of them were children.
More landslide victims were found in Papar and Penampang. The natural disaster forced thousands of people to leave their homes and has hit many villages across different parts of Sabah.
The Government has set aside money and sent help to support the victims and handle the emergency response.
