KUALA LUMPUR: The design of the building at SMK Presint 9 (2) in Putrajaya cannot be blamed for the fatal accident involving a Form Three student, said architecture experts.
Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) deputy president Ezumi Harzani said the accident was not caused by a bad design, but was due to human error.
“The height of the (school’s) wall complies with regulations.”
He said safety education needed to be intensified so that school buildings need not be “foolproof”.
“We need to educate people to take safety precautions seriously.”
He said improvements on the design of schools should be focused on creating an environment that improved the teaching and learning process.
“A good school environment can reduce stress and discourage aggressive behaviour, vandalism and other negative activities, and promote healthy mental development.
“This is the key to safety and security, and with it, a school building no longer need to be designed like a prison.”
Architect Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim said the design of the Putrajaya school was innovative as it took into account safety as well as good ventilation for the classrooms.
“The ledge is a weather shading device fixed above the window of the floor below. The 1.2m barrier is not meant to be climbed over and is supposed to prevent people from falling.
“The sliding windows are designed to provide comfort to students through good ventilation.”
On Monday, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the design of school buildings would be reviewed to improve safety. He had said the weaknesses of the Putrajaya school’s design included low barriers separating the classrooms and the ledge, as well as sliding windows.