KUCHING: Schools will be closed immediately if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeds 200, with teachers required to conduct lessons from home under haze management measures issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The Sarawak Education Department (JPN) said the measure is aimed at protecting the safety and health of students amid worsening air quality.
“API exceeding 200 is considered as very unhealthy. Therefore, schools must be closed immediately,” the department said in its advisory on haze management at schools.
It added that schools must inform the respective District Education Office (PPD) and JPN once the closure is enforced.
Teachers are required to continue teaching and learning through home-based learning (PdPR), according to the prevailing instructions.
The department also reminded school administrators to monitor API readings continuously through the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) and take appropriate action based on the readings.
When the API exceeds 100, all outdoor activities must be stopped, including sports, Physical Education, assemblies and other outdoor programmes.
Students are also advised to wear suitable face masks and drink water frequently while outdoor activities should be reduced when air quality becomes unhealthy.
For API readings exceeding 500, schools will be closed completely and teachers and school staff will not be required to report to school.
Parents or guardians who are concerned about their children’s health may also choose not to send them to school but must inform the school administration.
“The safety and health of students remain our priority,” Sarawak JPN stressed.
