KUCHING: A total of 64 schools statewide are predicted to be closed today (Monday) if the water level continues to rise.

State Education Department director Dr Julaihi Bujang said 60 of these schools would be primary schools.

“Schools badly affected by the flood might be closed and the highest number of schools affected is in Serian … a total of 33 primary schools and one secondary school, SMK Tebakang, which will be used as evacuation centre,” he said over a telephone interview yesterday.

In Bau, eight primary schools and two secondary schools would be closed, he said.

They are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Suba Buan, SK Segubang, SK Segong, SK Tembawang, SK Chung Hwa Siniawan, SK Chung Hua Keranji, SK Chung Hwa Bau, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Lake and SMK Bau.

In Lundu, two primary schools are affected by the flood namely, SK Bokah and SK Selampit, while in Kuching the affected schools are SK Landeh, SK Rantau Panjang and SK Sungai Maong.

Eight primary schools and one secondary school in Dalat plus six primary schools in Miri are also affected by flood.

He advised parents to put their children’s safety as top priority and that they should not send them to schools affected by flood.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, in his meeting with the State Disaster Relief Committee yesterday, urged headmasters of schools to close their schools if they were affected by flood.

“If a school is cut off by flood, headmasters need not open the school.

No one can go to the school after all, so there is no need for instructions and procedures,” he said.