It's back to school by boat for Jelebu students cut off by bridge collapse

Army personnel helping the students get across the river after a bridge in their village was swept away during the Dec 18 floods.

JELEBU: Twenty-three students from Kg Bemban near here probably never imagined they would need a boat to get to school but that is exactly how they made it to their first day of face-to-face lessons on Monday (Jan 10).

The students had to take a short boat ride, accompanied by Army personnel, as the bridge across Sungai Teriang linking their village to Kg Jerang was swept away by the Dec 18 floods.

Royal Malay Regiment 15th Battalion commanding officer Lt Kol Isma Zaini Ismail said his men were at the river as early as 6am to help the students get across.

"We made sure every child had a lifejacket on and limited the number of passengers in the boat.

"Parents need not worry as all safety aspects have been (covered)," he said.

The students from SK Durian Tipus, SK Sungai Buloh and SMK Teriang were a picture of calm as parents and the Army personnel helped them to get into the boat.

They were also told to remain seated during each boat trip to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

Lt Kol Isma said the Army had been providing the service to villagers to enable them to get across to Kg Jerang since Dec 21.

"We will continue to serve the villagers until a temporary bridge is built by Jan 21," he said.

The Jelebu Education Department also provided three vans to help the students get to their respective schools.

Parent Nor Hinim Md Isa, 46, said she was initially worried about allowing her 12-year-old child to take a boat ride across the river.

"I was worried but my daughter was actually excited. I am happy that everything went well," she said, adding that she too had experienced going to school by boat as a child after a bridge in her village was swept away by floods.

Nurul Amylia Mohd Rosbi, 33, said her 10- and 12-year-old children were also a little worried about the boat ride.

"I told them not to worry as the Army personnel would look after them well and they would be wearing lifejackets.

"And in the end, the boat ride was a happy experience for them. They waved at me after getting across safely," she added.