{
  "id": 12609064,
  "title": "Haze: Education Ministry orders state and district education offices, schools to monitor haze, act based on API readings",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/haze-education-ministry-orders-state-and-district-education-offices",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:46:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/07/haze-education-ministry-orders-state-and-district-education-offices-schools-to-monitor-haze-act-based-on-api-readings/238138"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) has mandated state and district education departments, as well as all schools under its jurisdiction, to closely monitor the ongoing haze situation in their respective regions. This directive aims to determine appropriate actions based on Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. The MOE emphasizes the priority of student welfare, health, and safety during such challenging conditions.\n\nState education departments (JPN) and district education offices (PPD) have been instructed to halt all outdoor activities, including gatherings and sports, particularly in areas where API readings exceed 100. The ministry continuously monitors the situation and prioritizes the well-being of students, especially in the face of unexpected haze scenarios.\n\nIn Batu Pahat district, under the supervision of the Johor JPN, educational institutions are temporarily closed until conditions improve. As of 10 am, Batu Pahat recorded an API reading of 190, prompting the decision. The Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal confirms these readings.\n\nFollowing the closure, home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) will be implemented, considering the students' safety, health, and overall well-being. The MOE advises JPN, PPD, and educational institutions to adhere to preventive measures outlined in the guidelines, such as postponing outdoor activities during extreme heat or haze and closing schools with API readings surpassing 200.\n\nSchools are urged to remain vigilant, coordinate with nearby clinics or hospitals for any health complications arising from haze and hot weather, and regularly monitor API readings and the latest status via the DOE’s website (https://eqms.doe.gov.my/APIMS/main). This directive has led to the closure of all 176 MOE-run schools in Batu Pahat, including 144 primary schools, 31 secondary schools, and one vocational college. Additionally, 106 state government religious schools and 53 registered private Islamic educational institutions in Batu Pahat have been ordered to close, effective immediately.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) has instructed state education departments (JPN), district e...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Haze: Education Ministry orders state and district education offices, schools to monitor haze, act based on API readings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/haze-education-ministry-orders-state-and-district-education-offices-12626628",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:46:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Schools to hold memorial events for Oct. 7 anniversary, Education Ministry announces",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/schools-to-hold-memorial-events-for-oct-7-anniversary-education",
        "published": "2026-10-07T12:12:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}