By DayakDaily Team
SELANGAU, May 13: SK Nanga Selangau, situated along the banks of the Selangau River, urgently requires long-term intervention as the school continues to suffer from repeated and severe flooding, including major incidents in 2025 and early 2026 that submerged its grounds, disrupted school operations, damaged infrastructure, and raised serious safety concerns for students and staff.
Sarawak Education director Omar Mahli has conducted a working visit to the school today to assess firsthand the impact of the recurring flood situation, particularly during the rainy season, and to review immediate and long-term mitigation needs.
According to a statement posted on Sarawak Education Department social media, Omar was briefed on the school’s flood risk profile, the extent of damage to facilities, and the disruption to teaching and learning activities caused by the increasingly frequent inundations.
He was also informed that critical infrastructure has been repeatedly affected, with classrooms, equipment, and access routes often rendered unusable during flood events, forcing interruptions to normal school operations.
“The Sarawak Education Department takes seriously the challenges faced by rural schools, especially those exposed to environmental risks and difficult geographical conditions.
“The department remains committed to working with relevant agencies to identify phased and practical solutions to safeguard education continuity at affected schools like SK Nanga Selangau,” he said.
Among the key priorities highlighted are infrastructure upgrades, flood mitigation measures, enhanced safety protocols for students and staff, and urgent repair works for facilities damaged by recurring floods.
“The welfare and safety of students, teachers and the entire school community remain our top priority,” he said, adding that learning must continue in a safe and conducive environment despite natural disaster challenges.
The visit also provided a platform for school administrators to directly highlight pressing issues and operational needs, allowing for more coordinated follow-up action from the department.
The Sarawak Education Department reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness across rural schools, in line with broader education reform efforts aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality education regardless of location or environmental challenges. — DayakDaily
