Education minister: Parents have discretion in having kids stay home from school if haze worsens

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek has stated that parents have the discretion to keep their children at home if they are worried about their health due to the current haze situation in Malaysia. In a Facebook post, the minister emphasized that she understands parents' concerns over the haze and reiterated that the health and safety of children are the top priority in all decisions made by the government.

The Education Ministry will continue to monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings issued by the Department of Environment (DOE) and stay abreast of the latest situation, especially in affected areas. According to the National Haze Action Plan, if the API reading exceeds 100, all outdoor activities are put on hold, and when it goes beyond 200, schools are closed.

Currently, Samarahan in Sarawak is the only area with a very unhealthy reading of 226, while 40 areas nationwide have unhealthy readings and 24 areas have moderate readings.