Haze: Education Ministry orders state and district education offices, schools to monitor haze, act based on API readings

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) has instructed state education departments (JPN), district education offices (PPD) and all educational institutions under its jurisdiction to continue monitoring the current haze situation in their respective locations to determine further action.

It said the directive includes immediately suspending all outdoor activities, including outdoor gatherings and sports, particularly in areas with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceeding 100.

“The ministry is always monitoring the situation and prioritises the welfare, health and safety of students, especially when facing unexpected haze conditions.

“The haze situation has also resulted in several locations posting unhealthy API readings,” it said in a statement today.

It said educational institutions in the Batu Pahat district, under the supervision of the Johor JPN, are temporarily closed starting today until conditions are safe and further instructions are issued.

According to the Department of Environment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, Batu Pahat recorded an API reading of 190 as of 10 am today.

Following the closure, home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) will be implemented based on suitability and current directives, taking into account the students’ safety, health and well-being.

“Based on the current haze situation and the latest API readings recorded nationwide, the Johor JPN has taken follow-up measures in accordance with the guidelines established by the MOE,” it added.

MOE also advised the JPN, PPD and all educational institutions under its purview to implement preventive measures outlined in the guidelines, including postponing all outdoor activities during periods of extreme heat or haze and immediately closing any school located in an area or district where the API reading exceeds 200.

It also urged schools to remain vigilant and coordinate with nearby clinics or hospitals should any students experience health complications due to the haze and hot weather.

“The JPN, PPD and all educational institutions under the MOE must also remain vigilant and monitor API readings and the latest status via the DOE’s website at https://eqms.doe.gov.my/APIMS/main on a regular basis to safeguard the health of students and the education community,” it added.

Yesterday, the Batu Pahat District Disaster Management Committee issued a directive for all schools, kindergartens and childcare centres in the district to close from today after the API reading there reached 203 as of 8pm.

The closure involved all 176 MOE-run schools in Batu Pahat, comprising 144 primary schools, 31 secondary schools and one vocational college.

Following this, state Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said in a statement that 106 state government religious schools, including  Integrated Religious Primary Schools (SRAB), and 53 registered private Islamic educational institutions (IPIS) in Batu Pahat have also been ordered to close, effective today. — Bernama