Schools closed since Monday open today

Oct 23, 2015

KUCHING: Schools across the state that have been closed since Monday due to the thick haze are open today.

Ministry of Education said schools in Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan and Betong divisions that have been ordered to close because of unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings would resume classes as usual. However, the ministry urged the school authorities to continuously remind and advise school children to use masks to cover their mouth and nose.

“For schools in Kuching, Sri Aman, Samarahan and Betong divisions in Sarawak that were closed, classes will resume as usual tomorrow (today), a media statement said yesterday.

It added that schools in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Wilayah Perseketuan Putrajaya, Wilayah Perseketuan Kuala Lumpur and Bentong in Pahang would also resume classes.

However, schools in Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Perak, where some areas recorded unhealthy and very unhealthy API readings would remain closed. The closure affected a total of 728, 739 school children from 1,600 schools, it said, adding that the closure was for the health of the children.

The ministry also urged state education departments, district education offices and school administrators nationwide to continuously monitor the API readings and implement measures that have been determined by the ministry. Meanwhile, API reading in Kuching was 119, Samarahan (122) and Sri Aman (135) as at 5pm yesterday.--The Borneo Post