Malaysia’s haze-related school closures leave parents scrambling to keep children on track for exams
Uncertainty over when schools in Malaysia would reopen has caused inconvenience, parents tell CNA. The authorities can help by prioritising device loans for low-income families and having flexible work arrangements for parents, says an expert.
School closures in Malaysia due to transboundary haze have caused inconvenience for parents, who are struggling to keep their children on track for exams. In Johor, schools are closed until at least October 16 due to smoke from widespread fires in Indonesia, leaving many children learning from home with limited devices and spotty internet connections.
One mother, Jacques Meena Micheal, has three children aged 8 to 14 attending a government-funded Chinese vernacular school, but only three phones available to log into e-lessons. The closures have forced parents to make a difficult trade-off between minimizing their children's exposure to unhealthy air and ensuring their education does not suffer, especially as year-end examinations approach.
Some parents question whether Malaysia's closure threshold is too cautious, comparing it to more lenient standards in other Southeast Asian countries. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has acknowledged the disruption caused by prolonged closures but maintains that the threshold must account for the risks posed by unhealthy air. Parents are particularly concerned about the impact on their children's preparations for year-end exams, with some already affected.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
