Haze forces 1,484 schools to close across Malaysia, over a million students affected
KUALA LUMPUR — The haze disrupted classes for over a million school students across Malaysia on Wednesday (Sept 18) after their schools were forced to close due to the worsening air pollution.
A student covers her face with a mask outside a school in George Town Sept 18, 2019.
KUALA LUMPUR — The haze disrupted classes for over a million school students across Malaysia on Wednesday (Sept 18) after their schools were forced to close due to the worsening air pollution.
The Ministry of Education Malaysia said in a statement that 1,484 schools in Sarawak, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Pulau Pinang and Negri Sembilan have shut down, affecting 1,003,310 students as of 1pm on Wednesday.
“Any updates or new information will be informed from time to time,” it said.
In the statement, the ministry reminded school administrators to adhere to the existing standard operating procedure and prioritise the health of students and teachers alike at all times.
Schools in areas with air pollutant readings (API) over 200 (very unhealthy) are automatically allowed to close.
Selangor recorded the highest closure at 538 schools involving 584,595 students followed by Sarawak at 337 schools involving 138,384 students.
The transboundary haze that has enveloped the country over recent weeks worsened significantly in past days, with 10 areas in the “very unhealthy” band and 35 in the “unhealthy” category. MALAY MAIL
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