Johor bahru: Schools in Johor will only be closed if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeds 200, in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Johor Education Department (JPN).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali stated that district education offices (PPD) and schools had been instructed to keep track of the latest API readings. They are required to update the information regularly to ensure updates could be conveyed promptly to parents, students, and teachers.
He highlighted that several districts recorded unhealthy API readings this morning, including Segamat (157), Batu Pahat (157), Tangkak (153), and Kluang (151). 'So, we have discussed with JPN that if the reading exceeds 200, schools will be closed. PPDs and headmasters need to establish effective communication channels immediately so that the situation can be managed properly,' he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Suria Jaya.
Muhammad Naqib also mentioned that the state government and JPN were monitoring outdoor activities to ensure students' safety amid the hot weather and haze. 'The department has prepared SOPs for outdoor activities and school closures... we are ready to implement them. We are currently experiencing hot weather, so this matter needs to be taken seriously. If necessary, we will reduce outdoor activities,' he said.
In a separate development, he announced that the state government, through JPN, planned to establish a special committee to address school infrastructure maintenance issues in Johor. The committee would include various parties, such as PPD representatives, principals, and headmasters, to monitor conditions on the ground and ensure urgent issues were addressed effectively according to priority.
Muhammad Naqib also reported that SMK Suria Jaya, previously classified as a 'sick project' after its construction was abandoned for 11 years, is now operating in its first phase with 222 Form One to Form Three students.