KOTA KINABALU: Floods and landslides in three districts of Sabah—Beaufort, Tenom and Kota Kinabalu—affected seven schools and 908 students.
Sabah Education Department Director Datuk Raisin Saidin announced that all affected schools would be closed on Monday (Jan 12) due to safety concerns and damage to school facilities.
In the Beaufort district, five schools—SK Bangkalalak, SK Garama, SK Jabang, SK Lago, and SK Suasa—were affected by flooding, impacting 364 students.
In Tenom, a landslide at SK Simpang led to a temporary closure and affected 60 students after the Public Works Department (JKR) ordered the evacuation of the school premises for safety reasons. Raisin mentioned this after visiting SMK Trus Madi in Keningau, located about100 km from Beaufort.
In Kota Kinabalu, SK Rampayan Menggatal was also closed, even though floodwaters had receded, to allow for cleaning and replacement of damaged furniture, affecting 484 students.
Raisin stated that the affected schools were given two options for teaching and learning: either implement Home-Based Teaching and Learning or conduct replacement classes on Saturdays, depending on each school's suitability and readiness. He emphasised the department's commitment to ensuring that students' access to education would not be disrupted despite the natural disaster.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to parents and the school community," he added.
As the weather in Sabah improves, only the Beaufort district remains affected, with 366 people from 138 families across 10 villages still housed in two temporary relief centres as of 8am on Monday, according to a statement from the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure residents' safety, particularly in low-lying and riverside areas.
The committee indicated that current disaster data shows the situation is under control, but residents are advised to remain vigilant and comply with any evacuation orders if conditions worsen.
Additionally, the public is encouraged to verify information through official channels to avoid the spread of inaccurate reports.
