Johor schools to stay closed until Friday

Schools and other educational institutions in Johor will remain closed for five more days from Monday due to the haze and deteriorating air quality across the state.

However, schools in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will continue as usual tomorrow as air quality remains under control, the education ministry said.

The Johor decision to keep schools closed was announced by state executive councillor Dr Naqib Ghazali who said it was made at the order of the Johor regent, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, to safeguard students’ health and safety.

“The state government believes that early preventive measures must receive priority, to reduce the risk of prolonged exposure to polluted air,” he said in a statement. Naqib said home-based teaching and learning would be implemented to ensure lessons could continue.

Unhealthy air pollution readings were recorded today in Pasir Gudang, Larkin, Tangkak, Segamat, Kota Tinggi, Pengerang, Batu Pahat and Kluang.

The education ministry said it would continue to monitor air quality. The ministry had previously directed school closures from Oct 9 in areas where air pollution readings exceeded 180, while those in areas with readings above 150 were to close from Oct 12.