2011 school session begins without a hitch

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KUALA LUMPUR: The 2011 school session which began nationwide yesterday generally went off without a hitch amidst the usual cries and laughter of those going to school for the first time.

However, there were also those whose schools could not open on the first day due to the flood, especially in Kelantan.

Students in Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu who were supposed to start their first day of school yesterday also started today following replacement holiday to mark the national football team winning the AFFSuzuki Cup 2010.

According to statistics from the Education Ministry, there were 5.4 million students enrolled in 9,943 schools throughout the country.

In Kelantan, 5,260 primary and secondary school students were unable to start their schooling session yesterday when nine schools, comprising five in Rantau Panjang, three in Tumpat and one in Gua Musang were closed due to the flood and landslips in the areas.

These schools were closed after the buildings and roads leading to the schools were inundated or that landslides have damaged the connecting bridges.

In Gua Musang, a school for Orang Asli students, SK Bihai, was closed following landslips and a damaged wooden bridge.

However, schools in Kota Baharu experienced no problems with 60,234 Primary One and Form One students entering a new phase in their academic lives.

Checks by Bernama at several primary and secondary schools in and around Kota Baharu found teachers and school staff cheerfully welcoming the pupils, especially the newbies into their first school experience.

Kelantan Education Department director Hussain Awang said 24,491 Year One pupils registered in 417 primary schools in Kelantan yesterday, while 35,743 Form One students registered in 163 schools.

In Perlis, 7,999 students started Primary One and Form One in 101 schools yesterday.

Out of this number, 4,366 were enrolled in Form One at 27 secondary schools while 3,633 began Year One in 74 primary schools.

In Negeri Sembilan, 14,543 Year One pupils, comprising 7,633 boys and 6,910 girls, enrolled for schooling yesterday.

State Education director Abdul Halim Abdul Razak said a total of 609 classes in 345 schools opened today, including new schools in Rembau. — Bernama