The Terengganu State Education Department (JPNT) has officially eased the dress code requirements for school students across the state as a proactive measure against the current hot weather conditions. Terengganu Education Director, Kamsah @ Kamal Mohamed, announced that although the local climate has not yet reached extreme levels, over 300,000 pupils are now permitted to forgo wearing neckties or fastening their shirt collars to the top. This flexibility is intended to ensure student comfort and safety as temperatures fluctuate during the school term.
School administrators have also been granted the authority to allow students to wear more appropriate attire, such as sports kits or physical education uniforms, should the heat become particularly intense. Kamsah noted that while the highest temperature recently recorded in Terengganu hovered around 33°C (91.4°F), the situation remains under control. He shared these updates following a working visit to observe the school session at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tumbuh, emphasizing that the department is prioritising the well-being of the youth.
Parents of students attending the 507 schools across Terengganu are strongly encouraged to provide their children with adequate supplies of drinking water before they leave for school. This recommendation is a key component of the state’s strategy to combat the risks associated with heat-related illnesses. Maintaining proper hydration is considered essential for students to remain healthy throughout their lessons and to significantly reduce the possibility of serious medical emergencies such as heatstroke.
In addition to parental involvement, school managements have been instructed to ensure that drinking water facilities, such as water filtration machines, are sufficient and fully operational on campus. The department aims to make clean water easily accessible to all students at any time, including those residing in boarding schools. This comprehensive approach ensures that hydration remains a constant priority within the educational environment regardless of the time of day.
The Terengganu State Education Department remains committed to monitoring the weather patterns closely and will adjust its directives as necessary to safeguard the student population. By empowering both schools and parents to take these preventative steps, the authorities hope to maintain a conducive learning atmosphere despite the challenging climatic conditions. These measures reflect a balanced effort to uphold school discipline while adapting to the environmental realities currently facing the state.
