Johor Regent Orders All Schools to Close Oct 8-9 Amid Worsening Haze
- All schools across the Malaysian state of Johor will close on Oct.
- The emergency closures affect all primary and secondary institutions, kindergartens, and nurseries in the southern state.
- 7, pushing readings into unhealthy and very unhealthy brackets on Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index (API) scale, according to New Straits Times.
All schools across the Malaysian state of Johor will close on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, following a direct decree from Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail, as worsening haze sends air pollutant readings past critical thresholds in multiple districts, THE STAR reported.
The emergency closures affect all primary and secondary institutions, kindergartens, and nurseries in the southern state. Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali stated that the shutdown serves as a necessary precautionary measure to safeguard the health and safety of students amidst rapidly deteriorating atmospheric conditions.
Escalating Air Pollution Across Johor Districts
Air quality across the state turned severe on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, pushing readings into unhealthy and very unhealthy brackets on Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index (API) scale, according to New Straits Times. The API scale categorizes 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous.
Batu Pahat recorded an API reading of 203 on the night of Oct. 6, marking the highest pollution level in the nation and crossing directly into the very unhealthy range, New Straits Times reported. That spike triggered an immediate district-wide shutdown under the National Haze Action Plan, ordering all local schools, kindergartens, and nurseries to close immediately on Oct. 7, Kosmo! noted.
Other districts experienced similarly severe conditions by the afternoon of Oct. 7. Segamat and Pasir Gudang recorded API readings of 171, followed by Tangkak at 168, Kluang at 166, Larkin at 162, Kota Tinggi at 160, and Pengerang at 156, according to New Straits Times.
Ministry Guidelines Mandate School Closures During High API Readings
The nationwide Ministry of Education requires all state education departments and district offices to implement immediate preventive steps under Circular No. 5 of 2016 and Circular No. 1 of 2019 when local API readings exceed 100 or cross 200, THE STAR reported. Those guidelines mandate the immediate suspension of all outdoor student activities once readings pass 100, and a total school shutdown in any district where the API exceeds 200.
To prevent academic disruption during the two-day statewide closure on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, schools must conduct home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) sessions, Muhammad Naqib announced. Schools scheduled to hold the Year Four Learning Matrix (MPT4) or other assessments during the closure window must postpone the exercises until the Johor Education Department issues rescheduling details.
Johor Chief Minister Urges ASEAN Emergency Meeting on Haze
Addressing the broader cross-border crisis, Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to convene an emergency meeting to tackle the regional haze, New Straits Times reported. Onn Hafiz raised the proposal during a meeting with Indonesian Consul General in Johor Bahru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto on Oct. 7, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional prevention and monitoring.
State officials also acknowledged the practical burden placed on working families by the sudden school shutdown. Muhammad Naqib urged employers across Johor to offer reasonable work flexibility and schedule arrangements to affected parents who must remain on the job during the closure.
Health Precautions and What Comes Next
State authorities and environmental agencies will continue monitoring API readings continuously through the remainder of the week. Parents and guardians are advised to limit outdoor physical activities, ensure children consume adequate water, and monitor vulnerable youths for symptoms of respiratory distress.
Seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as coughing, sore throat or breathing difficulties.
Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali
Physical school attendance across Johor remains suspended through Oct. 9, with resumption dependent on incoming air quality measurements and subsequent directives from the Johor Regent and state education authorities.