Haze? Penang schools ready to call off outdoor activities once API crosses 100, shut if over 200

Penang schools are prepared to cancel outdoor activities for students if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeds 100, with the possibility of school closures if the API level reaches 200 or higher, according to the Penang Education Department. In response to the haze affecting Penang, JPNPP director Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad announced that schools in the Minden area, which recorded an API reading of 107 yesterday afternoon, will suspend all outdoor activities involving students as a precautionary measure.

Should the API level remain in the "unhealthy" range throughout the morning, these schools will continue to suspend outdoor activities. The API readings at Minden monitoring station fluctuated between 97 and 107 over the course of a day, ultimately dropping into the "moderate" category by evening. Balik Pulau, Seberang Perai and Seberang Jaya monitoring stations reported API readings between 84 and 95 at 8 pm, all still within the "moderate" range.

Mohamad Dziauddin will meet with school administrators today to provide updates and discuss necessary measures in case the haze situation worsens or API readings reach unhealthy levels. Students are advised to wear face masks and stay hydrated, while schools should immediately send any unwell students to their parents or guardians.

Schools must suspend outdoor activities when the API surpasses 100, and must close immediately if the API exceeds 200. Teachers and support staff are not required to report for duty if the API surpasses 500. Schools may reopen when the API falls below 200 and shows a downward trend.