Kuala lumpur: Flooding has led to the closure of 28 schools in Sarawak, up from the 26 reported previously, as confirmed by the Dalat District Education Office. State Education Director Omar Mahli stated that the schools affected include two in Dalat, three in Daro, four in Selangau, and 19 in Tatau/Sebauh. As a result, these schools are shifting to home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) to accommodate students during the initial week of the term, which primarily focuses on orientation and light learning activities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new school term in 2026 involves over five million primary and secondary students across the nation, with 442,510 Year One and 423,646 Form One newcomers. Meanwhile, in Sabah, seven primary schools have also been closed due to flooding and landslides. State Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin reported that six schools in Beaufort are still flooded, while a landslide has impacted one school in Tenom, posing safety concerns. The affected schools may conduct PdPR during the closure or arrange for Saturday replacement classes once they are deemed safe to reopen.

Raisin emphasized that the schools will only resume operations when conditions are fully restored, ensuring the safety of students and teachers. The six schools impacted in Beaufort are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bangkalalak, SK Garama, SK Jabang, SK Kebulu, SK Lago, and SK Suasa, which together serve 364 students. Additionally, SK Simpang in Tenom caters to 60 students. Despite these closures, 43,385 Year One and 44,851 Form One students in Sabah commenced their 2026 school term today, alongside 410 secondary students in Remove classes. The total number of students starting the term in Sabah amounts to 490,314, encompassing 276,144 primary and 214,170 secondary students.