By EMBUN MAJID

ALOR SETAR, MALAYSIA: Some 260 pupils at SK Sungai Baru here had to skip school after their classrooms were flooded Sunday morning.

The pupils from year one to year five returned home after turning up at 8am.

State Education Department director Shahidan Abdul Rahman said that this was the second flooding incident at the school this year.

The first incident occurred in April this year and the school was closed for three days.

"This time, we allowed 55 year six pupils to continue their classes at the school canteen because they need to prepare for the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah in September," he said.

Shahidan said that the flash flood was due to poor drainage system inside and outside the school.

"The school is on a lower level from the road (Jalan Sungai Baru) and its located next to padi field.

"Each time, during heavy rain, water fills the school drain and if the rain continues the drains overflow into the classrooms," he said.

Shahidan said that the department planned to raise the floor level inside the classrooms to prevent floodwater from entering the classroom during heavy rain.

He said the department would also discuss with the state Drainage and Irrigation Department to find ways to improve the water flow, especially during heavy rain.