KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-seven Year Six pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Panudahan in Kudat were forced to complete their Mathematics Paper I examination inside the teachers’ staffroom, after the roofs of their school blocks were blown away by strong winds yesterday.
A Year Six pupil at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kibabaig re-sitting the Mathematics Paper I yesterdaymorning.
Strong wind destroys four classrooms and administrative office of Sekolah Kebangsaan Panudahan in Kudat yesterday morning.
State education director Datuk Jamie Alip disclosed that the pupils were just about 10 minutes into their Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) when suddenly a gushing strong wind blew off the roof top of their classroom around 8.25am.
He said the pupils had to be shifted to the teachers’ staffroom to complete their examination.
“The exam went well despite the incident. The pupils were able to complete the papers,” he said.
Jame, however, said two pupils, both boys, and one of the three invigilators suffered minor injuries in the incident.
“Jil Muin suffered injuries after a fan fell on him while Danielson Danius was injured after he was hit by the plywood ceiling.
“While the invigilator, Jamil Totong suffered minor injuries after a wooden beam fell on his back,” said Jame, adding that four classrooms and the school’s administrative office were destroyed in the incident.
In Penampang, 22 Sekolah Kebangsaan Kibabaig Year Six pupils were forced to put up at a nearby hotel to ensure that they arrive on time to re-sit for the same Mathematics Paper I examination.
The pupils had to stay a day away from home after flood caused by non-stop rain in the past few days, an effect of Typhoon Vongfong, made their villages inaccessible.
“We decided to put the 12 girls and 10 boys at the Bundusan Hotel as we did not want to risk them missing this last paper. We thank the teachers as well as those who made it possible, to ensure the whole process ran smoothly,” said Jame when met after inspecting the UPSR at the school.
A total of 120 pupils, including three with special needs, re-sat for the paper along with 45,361 statewide, after leaks were detected on four subjects – English, Science, Mathematics and Tamil.
SK Kibabaig is among 34 schools affected by the flood that also inundated other districts, including Papar, Tuaran, Kota Belud and the state capital.
“This is the worst ever flood since I was transferred to the school four years ago. We were forced to send the pupils home after water rose up to my chest,” said school teacher Christine Amandus.
Meanwhile, Jame said six invigilators were sent by helicopter to remote schools – SK Terian, SK Buaian and SK Longkogungan here after stretches of roads to the schools were inaccessible due to flood.
“We will fly them back to the city once the paper complete, if weather permits, otherwise we will only take them back tomorrow.
“The papers would be sealed and stored in the headmaster’s room, and the keys to the room and safe box would be held by the chief invigilator,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malek Tussin described the weather to be “less worrying” since Typhoon Vongfong, which has upgraded to Category 4 Super Typhoon packing wind of 155mph, and strengthening to Category 5, is forecast to move towards Japan.