The Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) has initiated proactive measures to safeguard the welfare of students across the state amidst the current heatwave affecting the country. Director Omar Mahli emphasised that the department is rigorously monitoring weather developments to ensure that the health and safety of all pupils remain under control during this period of rising temperatures.
According to the latest meteorological data, Sarawak currently remains within the ‘green zone’, indicating that thermal levels have not yet reached a critical stage that would necessitate widespread school closures. During a press conference held at the JPNS office today, Omar confirmed that no official directives for closures have been issued as the local climatic conditions are still deemed manageable by the authorities.
Despite the stable situation, JPNS is taking no chances and has issued a strong advisory for students to maintain high levels of hydration to prevent heat-related illnesses. Parents are encouraged to ensure their children bring adequate water supplies to school, while the department noted that many educational institutions across Sarawak are already equipped with water dispensing machines to provide easy access to clean drinking water.
For residential schools, administrators have been urged to utilise existing allocations to guarantee a continuous and sufficient supply of drinking water for boarders. Furthermore, a formal circular has been dispatched to all schools statewide, reinforcing the need for strict supervision of student movements and physical wellbeing during peak heat hours throughout the school day.
In a significant shift to daily routines, schools have been instructed to suspend all outdoor activities if temperatures become excessive on any given day. As a safer alternative, physical education and co-curricular programmes are to be conducted within school halls or shaded areas. Additionally, students are being granted flexibility regarding their uniforms, allowing them to wear more comfortable attire suited to the sweltering weather conditions.
