KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5- The Ministry of Education (KPM) has activated the Smart Support Team (SST) and Academic Support Team (AST) at temporary relief centers (PPS) to ensure that students' emotional state and their learning are not affected during the current flood season, said its Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
"SST consists of Guidance and Counselling volunteer teachers who are experienced and trained in supporting the emotions of students who are affected by the flood situation.
"AST also helps students to continue their learning even when they are in a PPS," he said in response to a question from Kulim Bandar Baharu’s Member of Parliament Roslan Hashim at the Dewan Rakyat.
Fadhlina added that a total of 470 educational institutions have been converted into PPS including 392 primary schools, 77 secondary schools and one vocational college since the start of the Northeast Monsoon last month.
Kelantan recorded the highest number with 240 schools turning into PPS, followed by Terengganu (137 schools) and Kedah (51 schools).
"As of 8 am, a total of 117 schools are still operating as PPS. This includes 93 primary schools and 24 secondary schools.
"A total of 7,212 students are still in PPS school premises with the breakdown by state as follows -- Kelantan with 5,305 students, Terengganu (1,090), Kedah (767), Melaka (30), Johor (18) and Perak (two)," she said.
She also said that KPM had activated the Flood Operations Room as early as November to coordinate related information.
All the data has been recorded by the State Education Department (JPN) and reported to the KPM Flood Reporting Dashboard.
The measure aims to ensure that aid can be channeled efficiently as well as minimise disruption to student learning in PPS throughout the flood season.
In the meantime, Fadhlina explained that Yayasan Didik Negara also plays an important role in ensuring that aid is distributed, especially involving essential needs such as school supplies and other necessities.
"This not only involves students, but also teachers and schools for which we will definitely face an increase in demand for this kind of assistance," she said.
Fadhlina also extended her appreciation to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) which has channeled a RM2.9 million allocation to repair PPS affected by the flood.