FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS FORCE THREE PENANG SCHOOLS TO CONDUCT PDPR

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Three schools in Penang will conduct home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) on Monday and Tuesday as their premises have been turned into temporary flood relief centres.

State Education Department director Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad said the schools involved are SK Lahar Yooi and SK Padang Menora in Seberang Perai Utara, and SK Guar Perahu in Seberang Perai Tengah, involving a total of 1,786 students.

He said the decision was made after monitoring found that many classrooms at these schools were being used to house flood victims whose homes were affected by rising waters since Friday.

“The department reviewed the situation at five schools used as relief centres and decided that PdPR is necessary for three of them to allow flood management agencies to operate effectively,” he told reporters after visiting victims at the SMK Permatang Pasir relief centre here today.

He said detailed instructions will be issued to the schools on how to conduct PdPR and manage teachers’ schedules during this period, adding that students affected by the floods will be allowed to attend school in casual clothes instead of uniforms next week to prioritise their safety and comfort.

Mohamad Dziauddin also said that the department has activated preparations under the Education Ministry’s ‘Ops Payung’ initiative to help SPM candidates travel safely to examination centres amid ongoing unfavourable weather conditions. 

He said data on students potentially affected by floods has been compiled to ensure they can be relocated early or assisted in reaching exam centres. The 2025 SPM examinations are scheduled to take place from Nov 3 to Dec 23.

-- BERNAMA