Education Ministry: Sports Day in schools can be postponed

The education ministry is putting health before sports as the country is facing tough times with the worsening haze condition.

Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said when the haze situation hits the very unhealthy level in the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading, schools are not allowed to conduct outdoor activities.

“Currently, if the API reading is higher than 300 in a particular area, schools in the area will be closed down. If it is higher than 200, the school will still be opened but outdoor activities like sports will not be held,” he told Astro AWANI today.

The Air Pollutant Index classifies readings from 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy and readings of 301 and above as dangerous.

Abdul Ghafar said this following the fact that most schools are scheduled to have their Sports Day this weekend or the next, just before the Muslims in the country observe the fasting month.

He said if the haze situation worsens, the Sports Day has to be postponed.

“The Sports Day could be held after the fasting month or Hari Raya. If the students are facing important examination like UPSR during the postponed Sports Day, maybe they could be exempted from taking part in sporting activities.

“It is not necessary to have the Sports Day on one particular day and complete it on that day itself. It could be carried out in stages.

“For example if there are 10 sporting activities, maybe only three activities can be carried out on one day,” he said.

Abdul Ghafar said their operation room would be monitoring the haze situation and will be informing the schools on the next course of action.

In Johor where the haze has hit the dangerous level, the state education department has issued a notice for a total of 195 schools in Kota Tinggi and Pontian to close.