Haze: All Johor schools to close for two days starting tomorrow by Regent’s decree over unhealthy API

Johor's Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, has ordered a two-day school closure starting tomorrow amid ongoing haze and unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels, according to Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali. The closure affects approximately 617,258 students enrolled in 1,198 schools under the Education Ministry's administration.

The decision aims to protect students' health and safety, with the closure set for October 8 and 9. Schools involved in Year 4 Learning Matrix or other assessments will have their schedule adjusted, depending on directives from the Johor Education Department and other authorities. Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) sessions will take place during the closure period to ensure continuous learning.

The government is keen on accommodating parents and guardians who still need to work, urging them to offer flexibility or seek immediate medical attention if their children experience respiratory issues. Johor's API readings, ranging from 161 to 197, were recorded at eight monitoring stations, with Batu Pahat's reading peaking at 197 in the morning.

Yesterday, 335 education institutions in Batu Pahat district were ordered to close following an API reading of 208.