Sweeping school closures across Malaysia as haze worsens

On Friday, October 9, schools in various parts of Malaysia were shut down due to worsening haze, which resulted in unhealthy air quality levels. The closure affected areas in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Pahang. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek instructed state and district education departments to continuously monitor the situation and take immediate action if necessary.

She acknowledged that the school closures would impact parents' daily routines and made a commitment to announce school closure decisions in advance to give parents sufficient time to prepare.

Fadhlina emphasized that maintaining the safety and health of children, teachers, and other education personnel remains their top priority. Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index (API) classifies air quality into three categories: unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300), and hazardous (above 300). On Friday morning, 37 areas recorded unhealthy API levels, with API readings remaining above 150 for three consecutive days triggering closures.

The ministry directed affected schools to conduct home-based learning and allowed teachers and support staff to work from home during the closure period. All schools in Johor were closed for two days as a precautionary measure, and assessments scheduled during this closure would be postponed, according to Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali.

Indonesia has been experiencing forest and land fires, resulting in thick haze affecting Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim informed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto that they would take necessary steps to combat the haze, offering assistance in the process.