KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan State Education Department (JPN) advises all schools in the state to ensure students take precautions during the monsoon transition next month to avoid health complications.
Director of the Planning and Management Sector of the Kelantan JPN District Education Office, Mat Lazim Mohamad, said this includes encouraging students to wear face masks and drink sufficient water throughout the school session.
"Kelantan is expected to experience hot weather when the monsoon transition occurs, so we encourage schools to take early steps to address this issue."
"This is because hot weather will expose students to dust, which may affect their health, causing fever, flu, and cough," he said to reporters after visiting the first day of the school session at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail 1 here on Sunday.
He said outdoor activities should also be reduced, focusing on indoor classroom activities, and appropriate clothing should be worn.
Previously, the Director-General of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, said hot and dry weather is expected to hit most places, especially in the northern areas of the Peninsula, including Perak, Pahang, and Kelantan, from this month until May.
He said the country is currently in the final phase of the Northeast Monsoon, expected to end in mid-March, and during this period, cloud cover and rainfall will decrease.
Meanwhile, Mat Lazim said 22 schools affected by last year's floods are able to operate as usual on the first day of the school session on Sunday.
"For schools in flood-affected areas, early preparations have been made, and we have provided sufficient learning equipment."
"We express our deepest appreciation to all parties, including non-governmental organisations, who have helped ensure the school session runs smoothly. We have been informed that there are still parties willing to help donate learning equipment to schools and students," he said. – Bernama
