Six schools in Kelantan still closed due to floods - Idris

Six schools in Kelantan could not start the new school session today as they are still affected by last month's floods.

Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the status of the six schools involved, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Dabong, SK Kemubu and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dabong in the Kuala Krai district, and SK Tohoi, SK Pasir Tumboh and SK Balar in Gua Musang district, would be reviewed daily.

"These schools will open soonest possible but it will depend on their cleaning-up process," he told reporters after handing out school uniforms to students of SMK Kampung Laut, here, today.

Also present was Kelantan Education Department director Hussain Awang.

Idris said the ministry also expected furniture like desks and chairs to be sent to the flood affected schools within a week and the school textbooks within this month.

The new school session for Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor started today and it is tomorrow for schools in the other states.

Idris also suggested that instititions of higher learning (IPTS) assist the government in building houses for flood victims whose houses were swept away, destroyed or badly damaged by the recent floods.

"If there are 20 IPTs, with each IPT building 20 houses, there would be 400 new homes for the flood victims. Don't wait for the government to do everything," he said.

In Kelantan, 2,677 houses were destroyed in the floods that hit the state last month.