Haze: Schools in three states, Putrajaya, KL, Tawau, Kuching, Samarahan ordered to close

Schools in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Tawau, Kuching and Samarahan have been ordered to close Monday (Oct 19) following the worsening haze situation.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in his Facebook posting on Sunday said the decision was made following the worsening Air Pollutants Index (API) readings in the areas.

However, Madzir said the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Kolej Vokasional examinations would continue as normal under 'Ops Topeng'.

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.