She said if the work to repair schools affected by the floods cannot be carried out before those dates, students would be given the choice to attend classes via home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

“There are 17 schools affected by severe floods in Johor, 14 of which are in Segamat. We will do our best to repair the damage immediately within these two weeks.

“We will not postpone the schooling session but we will give the option of PdPR,” she told reporters after visiting the temporary relief centre at SK Seri Bali in Chaah here.

Fadhlina said teachers’ desks and other furniture were among the damaged assets at the affected schools.

The school session for the 2023/2024 academic calendar will start on March 19 for Group A states (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor), while March 20 is for Group B states (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya).

As of this morning, there were a total of 53,040 flood victims in three states, with Johor recording a total of 49,410 victims.

Acknowledging the difficulties flood victims faced with school supplies such as school uniforms lost in the floods, Fadhlina said the ministry will be flexible and allow affected students to come to school wearing normal clothes.

“We have humane considerations, so they (students) can come to school in normal clothes as long as they still attend school and start the school session as usual,” she added.

Earlier, she also visited the relief centre at SMK Chaah here.