By Elton Gomes
Firemen deliver UPSR papers to flood-hit school
PAPAR: The work scope of the Fire and Rescue Department covers more than just putting out fires, providing assistance in road accidents or evacuation during flood situations.
They are also called up to help in transporting important documents such as examination papers for the Primary School Achievement Examination or Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) to schools affected by the floods.
Papar Fire and Rescue station chief, Janil Jaya said the department had been called up to assist in transporting the UPSR papers after the road to Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sumbiling Bongawan was made impassable to small vehicles following flooding in the area since Monday.
“To ensure students will not miss taking the UPSR, we assisted by transporting the examination papers, accompanied by eight examination officers, four district officers and school teachers using a fourwheel-drive vehicle and a lorry,” he said yesterday.
Other agencies were also involved in the operation, namely, the police, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, and staff of Borneo Samudera, said Janil.
Meanwhile the UPSR examination in five schools in the Beaufort district,, went on as per normal despite being hit by floods.
Sabah Education Department director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said the schools, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukau, SK Maraba, SK Weston, SK Lubok and SK Lingkungan were not closed as only the roads leading to the schools were inundated by flood waters.
“The examination at all centres went on as usual with the help of government agencies, Borneo Samudera (Sdn Bhd), police, fire and rescue department and others,” she said in a statement here yesterday.
There are 692 pupils and 84 teachers in the schools.