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JOHOR BAHRU – All schools in Johor will be closed for two days from Thursday (Oct 8) due to haze and deteriorating air quality across the state.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision was made on the orders of Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail as a precautionary measure to safeguard students’ health and safety.
He said Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) would be implemented during the closure to ensure learning could continue.
Schools involved in the Year Four Learning Matrix (MPT4) or other assessments will have the relevant activities postponed and rescheduled, subject to directives from the Johor Education Department (JPNJ) and relevant authorities.
“The state government understands that this decision may affect the arrangements of parents and guardians who still need to work.
“Therefore, the cooperation and consideration of employers are greatly appreciated in providing appropriate flexibility to affected parents, including reasonable work arrangements according to the needs of their respective organisations,” he said in a statement.
Dr Muhammad Naqib said the state government, together with relevant agencies, would continue to monitor Air Pollutant Index (API) readings closely.
He said the school closure would require adjustments by all parties, but the safety and health of children must remain a shared priority.
Parents and guardians were also urged to monitor their children’s health, reduce outdoor activities and ensure they drink enough water.
“Immediate medical attention should be sought if they experience symptoms such as coughing, sore throat or difficulty breathing,” he said. –BERNAMA
