Johor schools, educational institutions to remain closed for 5 more days

On October 18, the government of Johor extended the closure of schools and educational institutions in the state for an additional five days, beginning from October 19. This decision was made by the Johor Haze Management Coordination Committee following a meeting, as reported by Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, the State Education and Information Committee chairman.

The extension was necessary due to the persistent haze and its impact on air quality, as indicated by monitoring reports showing concerning levels of Air Pollutant Index (API) readings with no significant improvement. The closure was also influenced by wind movement towards the north and weather forecasts for the upcoming three to four days.

The state government's decision prioritized public health and safety, in line with the Regent of Johor's directive, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. All schools will continue their Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) during the closure, in accordance with the MOE's PdPR Manual Version 2.0. However, the needs of students taking examinations and assessments would be considered, with limited exceptions allowed.

These exceptions would require coordination by the Johor Education Department and strict adherence to health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), with no additional activities permitted. Educational institutions and childcare centers were urged to follow established guidelines, including wearing face masks. Health authorities have expressed concerns over the public health risks of prolonged exposure to air pollution, particularly for children and vulnerable groups, after recording 30,648 cases of asthma and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in October, a 20.7 percent weekly increase.

The state government had previously announced a closure of all schools for two days from October 8, which was then extended to cover educational institutions for another five days from October 12.