ISKANDAR PUTERI: Some 669 schools in Johor have been designated as temporary relief centres in preparation for the monsoon floods.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin said these included 143 secondary schools.
He said attention was given to minimising any disruption to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which begins on Dec 2.
"The Johor Education Department prioritises primary schools as flood relief centres to avoid impacting secondary schools, particularly with students sitting the SPM examination.
"Should secondary schools be required to serve as relief centres in the event of unexpected flooding, appropriate standard operating procedures will be adhered to.
"For example, examination halls will be moved to higher floors and affected students will be relocated to other examination centres," Aznan told a press conference in Bangunan Sultan Ismail today.
The northeast monsoon, which began on Nov 5, is expected to last until March next year.
Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the monsoon would bring five to seven episodes of heavy rainfall, with Johor among the affected states.
Aznan said contingency plans to relocate affected students had been coordinated in line with directives from the menteri besar.
Key agencies, including the Malaysian Armed Forces, police and the Johor Public Transport Authority, will deploy resources such as trucks and buses to ensure SPM candidates can reach their examination centres without delay.