Back to school in Kelantan was an exciting affair for the vast majority of students although many were without uniforms and tramautised by the devastating "bah kuning" (yellow flood) that has ravaged the state.

Some had even lost their homes and not only that, many schools were also badly hit in the disaster, forcing them to "make do" to accomodate the students for the new schooling session which started today in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor. Kelantan was the worst hit.

Checks by Bernama around Kampung Laut, Tumpat found most of the students were no in school uniforms but appeared glad to be back in school after an "extra long" school holiday.

The new session was supposed to have started last Sunday but was deferred to today because many schools had to be cleaned up after flood waters receded.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Laut headmaster Roslan Mohamad said he was pleased that the flood tragedy had not dampened the students' spirts as there was a 100 percent attendance today, though 70 percent did not wear their uniforms.

"We allowed them to come in their normal clothes because we understand their families are still struggling to get back on their feet," he said.
    
He added that traumatised students would be given the required counselling to ensure their continued attendance.

It was the same situation in KUALA KRAI, with about 200 pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Manek Urai turning up in track pants, T-shirts, slippers and without books or bags.

Although the school was not fully functional yet because it sustained severe damage in the floods, parents turned up to register their Year One children, which this time had to be done manually.

Still cleaning to be done

Muhammad Qafari Aminarosnawi, 11, from Kampung Manek Urai Lama, a Year Five student who was not in uniform, when interviewed by Bernama, said:"It is a small matter, I was looking forward to meeting my friends and teachers.

He was among 500 victims taking shelter at the school which was turned into a relief centre but itself became a "victim" at the height of the floods.
    
The school' headmaster Yusof Ismail said it had an enrolment of more than 400 pupils and that new chairs and tables were supplied by the Kelantan Education Department yesterday.

In KEMAMAN, Terengganu, Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Mentok, which was used as a relief centre during the floods, was a hive of activity today.

Its headmaster Mohd Nasir Mat Omar said there was still a little more cleaning work to to do but this had not affected its operations.

Some 80 pupils registered for Year One at the school which has an enrolment of more than 500 pupils.

- Bernama