Johor sets up task force on school operations amid haze

Johor has established a specialized task force to oversee the haze situation and draft guidelines for school operations, according to Dr Naqib Ghazali, chairman of the Johor education and information committee. The decision came during a state haze management coordination meeting, which Dr Ghazali presided over. The task force was formed alongside the activation of the state disaster management committee to enhance cross-agency cooperation.

The task force will provide timely updates on whether schools should remain open or close, giving parents, guardians, teachers, and schools ample time to prepare, as stated by Dr Ghazali in a Facebook post. The committee will also monitor the haze conditions daily, and all official information and decisions will be communicated clearly and consistently to the public.

Concerns raised by parents regarding their children's health and the difficulties faced by teachers and schools in conducting lessons amidst the haze were acknowledged by Dr Ghazali. Decisions will be made based on multiple factors, including air pollutant index readings, environmental conditions, health risks, pupil safety, and all parties' preparedness.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that all schools in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Putrajaya would close due to the haze. Additional closures were ordered in specific districts of Selangor (Hulu Langat, Petaling Perdana, Kuala Langat, Sepang), and Pahang (Kuantan, Rompin). Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak, as well as certain districts in Selangor and Pahang, remain open.

Dr Sidek urged parents and school communities to follow announcements from the education ministry and state and district education offices for updates.