Kota kinabalu: A total of 78 schools in Sabah, including 68 primary schools and 10 secondary schools, have been identified as affected by the recent floods that hit the state. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced the affected schools involved 35 schools in the Beaufort district, 20 in Papar, six in Penampang, five in Nabawan, and three each in Keningau, Sipitang, and Tenom, with Tambunan and Kota Belud having two and one school affected, respectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadhlina stated that a comprehensive damage assessment is underway, and repairs will be expedited to ensure educational access and operations are not disrupted. She shared this information during a press conference at Wisma Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Sabah. Fadhlina mentioned that about 50 percent of the affected schools have been cleaned, with ongoing post-flood cleaning efforts involving volunteers from the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM).

Financial assistance is being extended by the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) to 50 flood-affected schools, alongside RM300 from the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin (KWAMP) for each eligible student. Additional support includes takaful insurance for fatalities due to landslides and contributions from Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN) for school equipment to the affected institutions.

In relation to the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) Gaya Campus, Fadhlina indicated that the ministry plans to request funding in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to construct a new dormitory block on the flat area of the campus. As an interim measure, the IPGM will rent nearby premises for a lecture hall, with several other buildings identified to accommodate displaced classrooms or lecture rooms.

The ministry had previously ordered the immediate evacuation of the quarter building near the landslide site at the institute on September 18.