School closures due to haze depend on local conditions, says Fadhlina

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has acknowledged the desire of parents for early announcements regarding school closures due to the haze situation. She emphasized that such timely information would provide parents with the necessary time to prepare. However, she cautioned that API readings can vary based on time and location, hence decisions on closures must consider prevailing conditions in each area.

The responsibility for haze management is shared between the Department of Environment, which monitors air quality, and the Ministry of Health, which offers health guidance. The Ministry of Education's role lies in ensuring student safety and managing school operations under current circumstances. Fadhlina recalled the adverse effects of school disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic on children's learning, highlighting the ongoing efforts to mitigate learning loss, especially considering disparities in home-based teaching and learning facilities among students.

For boarding students, she advised they remain in hostels during school closures, provided safety conditions are met and their well-being is ensured to alleviate the inconvenience of frequent transportation. The Ministry of Education will continue to monitor the situation through State Education Departments and District Education Offices, while enhancing information dissemination to parents.

Fadhlina expressed appreciation for parents' feedback and patience in handling the current haze situation.