June 20, 2013
The Education Ministry today directed schools to close if the Air Pollution Index (API) hits the hazardous level of 301. This is to ensure the health and safety of students.
Director-General of Education Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said school administrators need to take the action under the National Haze Action Plan.
Schools should also stop all co-curriculum and outdoor activities if the API is higher than 250 and stop all outdoor activities for high-risk students if the API exceeds 150, he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.
"The Education Ministry takes a serious view of the haze phenomenon currently affecting the country. Following the decision of the Cabinet meeting on Aug 15, 2012, on the amendment to the National Haze Action Plan, the ministry issued a circular on the measures to ensure the safety of students in areas affected by critical levels of haze," he said.
Abdul Ghafar said state education departments, district education offices and schools had been directed to monitor developments through the mass media and the Department of Environment (DoE) website.
He said the ministry had also opened an operations room to monitor the situation.
"Pupils have been advised to wear masks and schools should take unwell students to the nearest clinic or hospital to ensure their safety," he said.
More than 200 schools in Muar, Johor, were ordered to be closed today when the API there hit 383. - Bernama, June 20, 2013.