Batu Pahat:The Ministry of Education (MOE) has directed state education departments, district education offices, and educational institutions to monitor the haze situation closely, which is currently affecting various regions. This directive includes the immediate suspension of all outdoor activities, such as gatherings and sports, especially in areas where the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 100.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MOE emphasized its commitment to the welfare, health, and safety of students amid the unexpected haze conditions. The ministry reported that several locations are experiencing unhealthy API readings, prompting educational institutions in the Batu Pahat district to close temporarily until conditions improve.
Batu Pahat recorded an API reading of 190 as of 10 am, according to the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System portal. As a result of the closure, home-based teaching and learning will be implemented as appropriate, prioritizing students' safety and health.
The Johor State Education Department has taken measures in line with MOE guidelines, following the latest haze situation and API readings. The ministry advised postponing outdoor activities and closing schools in areas where the API reading exceeds 200. It also called for coordination with nearby clinics or hospitals if students face health issues due to the haze.
Educational institutions are instructed to regularly check API readings via the Department of Environment's website to ensure student safety. The Batu Pahat District Disaster Management Committee ordered the closure of all schools, kindergartens, and childcare centers in the district after the API reading reached 203 as of 8 pm yesterday.
All 176 MOE-run schools in Batu Pahat, including 144 primary schools, 31 secondary schools, and one vocational college, are affected by the closure. Additionally, 106 state government religious schools and 53 registered private Islamic educational institutions in Batu Pahat have been ordered to close, as stated by the state Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid.