Laksana kelas dalam talian apabila IPU cecah 100, saran pakar

The Malaysian Ministry of Education currently mandates that schools suspend outdoor activities when an Air Pollution Index (APU) reading exceeds 100, and close schools entirely when readings surpass 200, according to the <source>. Health experts argue that schools should instead switch to online classes and wait until air quality improves to a safe level before reopening.

Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia explains that children need to wait for the air to become healthy before returning to school, as their lungs are still developing and have a lower capacity compared to adults. Exposure to poor air quality poses a higher risk of respiratory issues for children, particularly during forest and land fires in Indonesia which have led to dangerously unhealthy air quality in Malaysia.

The Ministry of Education initially set the threshold for outdoor activities at 100 APU, but schools are only closed when the reading exceeds 200. Pediatrician G Naveen Nair recommends transferring children indoors as the first step during severe pollution, but also emphasizes the importance of improving indoor air quality as windows should not remain open unnecessarily.

Installing air quality monitors can be helpful if available, but parents should not rely on mask-wearing as a solution, as improper use or ineffective masks like N95 respirators can cause claustrophobia and provide false sense of security. Health guidelines state that standard face masks do not filter fine particles during smoke, while N95 respirators offer better protection when worn correctly, but may not fit children well.