PEKAN: Heavy intermittent rainfall derailed plans to pump stagnant floodwaters or "banjir termenung" out of the flooded SK Temai compound here last week.
Currently, pupils from Years One to Three continue attending classes through home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) while those in Year Four to Six are sitting for their academic session final examination at the Temai Hulu temporary relief centres(PPS) nearby.
Pekan district education officer Mohd Razali Mustafar said the Drainage and Irrigation Department(DID) began pumping out stagnant floodwaters on Dec 5 but rain had caused some setbacks.
"Continued heavy rain resulted in Sungai Pahang which is flowing nearby to overflow its banks and inundate the low lying areas. The river water has entered the school compound and mixed with the dark coloured stagnant water.
"Last week, the school teachers and parents helped to move 60 chairs and tables to the Temai Hulu PPS so that the upper primary pupils can sit for their year end examinations this week. The lower primary pupils will continue with their online lessons," he said when contacted.
Razali said if the weather improves in the next few days and the water level drops, the DID will return to help pump water out of the school compound.
"It will take about 48 hours to completely pump out all the stagnant water and it can only be done after the water level reaches a certain height," he said, adding SK Temai was currently under 0.98m of water compared to 0.48m on Jan 4.
SK Temai emerged as the only school in the country yet to resume physical classes this year due to the northeast monsoon floods, and lessons were supposed to commence after the stagnant flood waters were pumped out last week.
Education Ministry's deputy director-general (Professionalism Development Sector) Shafruddin Ali Hussin said stagnant floodwaters had prevented pupils from returning for the new academic term on Jan 2.
SK Temai, which is 113 years old, has a total of 128 pupils and 15 teachers.
Caption:
1. The stagnant floodwaters at SK Temai have prevented pupils from returning for physical lessons.