All schools in Kedah and Perlis will be closed on Thursday, March 31 following the El Nino phenomenon and heatwave in both states.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid made the announced today adding that the school closure is extended until Friday, April 1 for schools in Perlis.

"Monitoring by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the dry and hot weather that is sweeping the country now found some areas and regions - particularly in the north of the peninsula until today (30 March 2016) - recorded temperature readings higher than 37 degrees Celsius at a particular time, every day and more than 72 hours," he said.

The decision involves 853 schools, of which 232 are secondary schools and 621 primary schools.

The number of students affected is 413,786 of which 397,832 are secondary and primary school students, while 15,954 are preschoolers.

"The closure involves the absence of students only and the closure does not need to be replaced,” he said.

He added that the operation of school administration, except for teaching and learning activities of students, to continue as usual.

"All teachers and school staff must be present in their schools and serve their duties as usual such as attend meetings, plan teaching and learning activities and other tasks that does not involve the students," he added.

He said this after attending a briefing at the Penang State Education Department on Wednesday.

Recently, the Education Ministry announced that all schools in Kedah and Perlis were closed for two days on March 22 and 23 due to drought and heat waves of more than 37 degrees Celsius.