KUALA LUMPUR: The new session of several schools in Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor was postponed due to floods and the big wave phenomenon today.
In Terengganu, 22 out of 501 primary and secondary schools delayed commencing their new session as roads leading to the affected schools were flooded, while some schools had been turned into evacuation centres.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said despite the floods, 22,515 Year One pupils turned out to register for school this year, compared with 19,800 last year.
In Kelantan, floods forced 16 primary schools with 2,915 pupils to be closed. Affected students comprised 1,248 students in the Tanah Merah district, 922 in Kuala Krai district and 745 in Jeli district.
State education department director Jaafar Ismail said the decision on whether to replace postponed school days will depend on flood conditions.
A total of 12,344 students registered for Year One in Kelantan for the 2017 session.
In Johor, state education director Shaharudin Sharif said four schools on islands off Mersing, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Aur, SK Pulau Pemanggil, SK Pulau Tinggi and SK Pulau Sibu could not start their new school term due to the big wave phenomenon.
"Rough seas since Friday forced 37 teachers to delay their journeys to the schools. But the schools are expected to commence their sessions on Tuesday, (sea conditions permitting)," he said after observing the school session in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Scientex in Pasir Gudang.
The Marine Department had earlier issued a big wave warning and prohibited small crafts from sending passengers to the islands since Friday, causing the teachers to be stranded in Mersing.
Shaharudin said 612,000 primary and secondary school students started their session at 1,182 schools in Johor. --BERNAMA