Ramping up disaster response

Burning problem: Fire safety inspections in schools often reveal not only infrastructure issues but also gaps in awareness, training and safety culture, says N­or Hisham.

PETALING JAYA: Plans to address disasters and emergencies are being expedited in view of the northeast monsoon causing damage to more schools now than before, says the Education Ministry.

A total of 778 educational institutions were affected by floods nationwide when the monsoon struck between November last year and March this year.

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“This figure shows a significant increase compared to the previous monsoon season, from Nov 11, 2023, to March 31, 2024, which involved 322 educational institutions,” the ministry told StarEdu.

The ministry noted that as of October last year, 883 schools were located in flood-prone areas.

“Interventions for these schools include the provision of plastic tables and chairs that are easily movable and cleaned in the event of a flood.

“Schools are also encouraged to relocate special rooms and the storage of valuable items to higher floors,” it said.

The ministry acknowledged that the increase in the number of institutions being flood-affected highlights the need to strengthen preparedness measures, mitigation efforts and emergency response plans, particularly in high-risk areas.

The ministry said measures are being taken to enable swift and effective responses to maintenance needs, ensuring that the ministry’s immovable assets continue to function optimally, minimising disruptions to teaching and learning.

Meanwhile, a total of 129 fire incidents involving educational institutions were recorded from January 2024 to April this year, said the Fire and Rescue Depart­ment director-general Datuk N­or Hisham Mohammad.

The institutions were categorised into preschools (government and private), primary schools (government and private), secondary schools (government and private), boarding schools, tahfiz, public institutes of higher learning and private institutes of higher learning.

Nor Hisham said emphasis should be placed not only on infrastructure upgrades but also on continuous education and scheduled training for the entire school community.

“Fire safety inspections in schools often reveal not only infrastructure issues but also gaps in awareness, training and safety culture.

“Among the main areas that require improvement are unsafe or obstructed emergency exit routes, outdated or poorly maintained electrical systems, absence or insufficient number of fire extinguishers, lack of early fire warning systems, inappropriate storage of flammable materials, and low awareness and lack of training among school staff and students.”

Nor Hisham said school fire safety inspections are generally conducted according to a fixed schedule.

“We also adopt a risk-based approach to determine the need for inspections.

“Schools in higher-risk areas or with a history of fire incidents are prioritised for more frequent checks.

“If any issues are detected, the schools will be given a specific time frame to make the necessary corrections.

“The department keeps records of all inspections and follow-up actions. Schools that fail to comply may face warnings or fines.”