00:00A teachers' union has voiced concerns over the safety of students and teachers in high-rise
00:06school buildings, warning that overcrowding could pose significant risks, especially during
00:11emergency evacuations.
00:14National Union of the Teaching Profession Secretary-General Fauzi Singh On said the
00:18proposed school design, which involves the building of two blocks, each between 10 and
00:2317 storeys high, could house as many as 7,000 students.
00:29He said, as such, the school must have clearly marked exits, conduct regular fire drills,
00:34and provide at least two wide staircases for quick and efficient evacuations.
00:40The Kuala Lumpur City Hall recently proposed the building of high-rise schools to address
00:44the limited availability of land in the city and its rising population.
00:49Meanwhile, Nur Azimah Abdul Rahim, chairman of the Parents' Action Group for Education
00:54Malaysia, said high-rise schools may be better suited for secondary students, who are more
00:59likely to adhere to structured evacuation procedures.
01:04She said there must be a strong sense of discipline, responsibility, and camaraderie to ensure order
01:09during emergencies, lunch breaks, and class transitions.
01:13However, Rahman Hussein, an urban planner and chief strategy officer of MyMobilityVision,
01:20warned that the proposal could lead to severe traffic congestion, with hundreds of students,
01:24teachers, and staff arriving and departing within short timeframes.
