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Floods keep Riau students away from school
Flash floods that hit three districts in Rokan Hilir regency have forced students in nine schools to skip classes
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lash floods that hit three districts in Rokan Hilir regency have forced students in nine schools to skip classes.
According to Rokan Hilir regency education head Misnawati, the three districts were Pekaitan, Bangko Pusako and Kubu.
'We've decided to postpone exam schedules at the affected-schools until the floods subside. Students may not be able to study as many of their houses have also been inundated by floodwater,' said Misnawati.
'School managements are free to take their own decision to close their schools due to floods. If schools are located nearby canals or rivers and the floods are considered too dangerous [for student safety], they can be temporarily closed,' she said.
Meanwhile, as many as 170 elementary school students in Meranti Pandak subdistrict, Rumbai Pesisir district, had to take examinations at a warehouse as their school was inundated on Tuesday.
'Here [in the warehouse], there are no desks and chairs. We only use mats, cardboard and used banners [for students to sit],' said SDN 120 Pekanbaru elementary school headmistress Rosmaida on Tuesday.
In 2008, students of SDN 120 Pekanbaru were also forced to study out of school due to floods.
'This year's flood is the worst ever. Last year, floods also hit the area but the floodwater only inundated the school yard. This year, the water is knee-height and has reached classrooms, so we've had to evacuate all the students,' Rosmaida said. 'We hope the local administration does something about this, like building two-story classrooms.'
