KUALA LUMPUR: More than 7,000 school students are still at flood relief centres, with Kelantan having the highest number, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Of the total 7,212 students displaced, 5,305 are in Kelantan, followed by Terengganu (1,090), Kedah (767), Melaka (30), Johor (18) and Perak (two).
“The ministry has also mobilised the smart support team (SST) and academic support team (AST) at these relief centres to provide assistance to the students,” she said.
Fadhlina was responding to Kulim Bandar Baharu MP, Roslan Hashim, who asked the ministry to state the total number of students affected by the recent flood and the number of schools used as relief centres.
Fadhlina explained that SST comprises experienced volunteer counselling teachers who will support students going through emotional distress during the disaster.The academic support team works to assist these students with their learning in the relief centres, she said.
The minister said since the beginning of the northeast monsoon, a total of 470 educational institutions have been transformed to relief centres.
This comprised 392 primary schools, 77 secondary and one vocational college.
“To date, there are still 117 schools operating as relief centres, with 93 being primary schools and 24 secondary schools,” she added.
