Traffic noise and its impact on school teaching and learning environment in Kuala Terengganu city center

Compared to other sources of environmental pollution noise pollution is deemed as the most menacing, including that emitted by city traffics. This study aimed to measure traffic noise levels in Kuala Terengganu city centre and to evaluate local school teachers’ perception of the the effects of the traffic noise on the behaviour of students as well as the teaching and learning environment in the classroom of four selected schools in Kuala Terengganu city centre. Levels of traffic noise were gathered using the Integrating Sound Level Datalogger Extech Instruments Model 407 780 with three points of observation, namely, outside the school fence, inside the school fence and also inside the school building located closest to the road. Observations were conducted on working and non-working days in the morning, at noon and in the evening. Results of the study showed that the noise levels recorded in all four schools had exceeded the standards from Department of Environment (DOE) at 65 dBA. On average, SK Paya Bunga and SMASZA recorded the highest noise levels compared to other schools, especially on weekdays. The result of the questionnaire analyses also found that traffic noise affected the behaviour of the students and disrupted the process of teaching and learning in the classroom. Authorities need to be cognizant of this fact and enforce relevant laws to mitigate this problem in addition to enhancing and improving the school infrastructure, in particular, the classrooms so that teaching and learning may proceed without much disturbance from traffic noise.