National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon said the proposed school design — which involves the building of two blocks, each between 10 and 17 storeys high — could house as many as 7,000 students.

Such a large student population increases the risks associated with emergency evacuations, particularly if stairwells are crowded and fire hazards present.

“As such, the school must have clearly marked exits, conduct regular fire drills, and provide at least two wide staircases for quick and efficient evacuations,” he told FMT.

Fouzi said although such schools would be heavily reliant on elevators, their stairwells would need to be managed strictly. This is to prevent accidents occurring, especially during power outages, he said.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) recently proposed the building of high-rise schools to address the limited availability of land in the city and its rising population.

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek has since confirmed that discussions on the proposal are ongoing. She said aspects of safety, accessibility and feasibility will be given due consideration.

Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chairman of the Parents Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE), said parents would support the initiative only if safety and security of their children can be guaranteed.

She said high-rise schools may be better suited for secondary students, who are more likely to adhere to structured evacuation procedures.

“There must be a strong sense of discipline, responsibility, and camaraderie to ensure order during emergencies, lunch breaks and class transitions,” she said.

Traffic and accessibility issues

Rahman Hussin, an urban planner and chief strategy officer of My Mobility Vision, warned that concentrating thousands of students in a single vertical structure could lead to severe traffic congestion.

“With hundreds of students, teachers and staff arriving and departing within short timeframes, the risk of severe bottlenecks is high,” he said.

However, he said the problem can be managed by integrating schools with public transport networks and enforcing staggered start times.

“Singapore’s urban schools mitigate congestion by enforcing staggered school start times and by implementing designated pick-up and drop-off zones,” he said.