Haze: More schools to be closed tomorrow

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has ordered more schools to be closed tomorrow (Oct 20) due to the worsening haze.

Schools in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Samarahan (Sarawak), Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak (Sabah) were ordered to close on Tuesday following the worsening Air Pollutants Index (API) readings in the areas.

The Education Ministry had also ordered schools in Muar, Ledang and Segamat (Johor) to close tomorrow.

On Sunday, Mahdzir had ordered schools in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Tawau, Kuching and Samarahan have been ordered to close on Monday (Oct 18).

An API of between 0 to 50 is good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (dangerous).

On Oct 4, Mahdzir said schools closed due to the haze need not have their classes replaced and added that the measure was being taken so as not to burden the school management.

The Education Ministry had closed 4,561 schools from nine states, involving 2,617,432 students as the API reading breached the unhealthy and very unhealthy levels since Sept 15 until Sept 30.

According to him, the nine states involved were Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Putrjaya Federal Territory, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak and Perak.