{
  "id": 13897863,
  "title": "Haze-related school closures to be decided collectively, says Fadhlina",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/haze-related-school-closures-to-be-decided-collectively-says-fadhlina",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T07:22:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1553710/haze-related-school-closures-be-decided-collectively-says-fadhlina"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek revealed that school closures due to haze will be decided collectively by the Education Ministry, health, and environmental authorities. The decision-making process will consider students' health and learning needs, existing standard operating procedures, air quality assessments, and advice from relevant agencies. Fadhlina emphasized that the ministry would monitor the situation and rely on advice from the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the Health Ministry, and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry. Parents are advised to keep track of announcements from district and state education offices regarding school closures and reopenings. The ministry has established guidelines to suspend outdoor activities when the Air Pollutant Index exceeds 100 and to close schools immediately when readings exceed 200. Fadhlina stressed the importance of students' health and learning, acknowledging that prolonged closures could disrupt education.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry will work with health and environmental authorities to decide on school closures due to the haze, with students’ health and learning needs taken into account, says its minister, Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Fadhlina: Schools cannot close for days as haze fluctuates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/fadhlina-schools-cannot-close-for-days-as-haze-fluctuates",
        "published": "2026-10-12T02:49:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "School closures due to haze depend on local conditions, says Fadhlina",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/school-closures-due-to-haze-depend-on-local-conditions-says-fadhlina",
        "published": "2026-10-12T03:04:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Haze: MOE to announce school closures as early as possible – Fadhlina",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/haze-moe-to-announce-school-closures-as-early-as-possible-fadhlina",
        "published": "2026-10-12T03:37:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}