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PARENTS worried about their children's health amid the current haze have the green light to keep them home, provided they notify the school.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek assured families that the ministry understands their anxiety as air quality drops in affected areas.
"I understand parents' concerns over the current haze situation. We hear those concerns.”
“The health and safety of our children remain the priority in every action we take," Fadhlina said in a statement today.
She noted that all operational decisions are guided strictly by the National Haze Action Plan, using official Air Pollutant Index (API) readings from the Department of Environment (DOE).
Under standard protocols, all outdoor classroom activities are halted when the API reading crosses 100, while schools are mandated to close if readings climb past 200.
Even outside of these official thresholds, Fadhlina stressed that parents who feel the air quality poses a risk to their children's health are fully permitted to keep them home, as long as the school administration is informed. - September 7, 2026
