Malaysia expands haze school closures as home learning takes over

Malaysia closed schools across four states, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Pahang’s Rompin district on Friday, October 9, as worsening haze disrupted classroom teaching. Affected Education Ministry institutions must provide home-based learning, while a new air-quality closure threshold takes effect and a second rule starts on Monday.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek named Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor among the affected states in a Thursday announcement reported by CNA. The closures cover those jurisdictions and the named federal territories and district; the announcement does not describe a blanket nationwide shutdown.

CNA reported that 37 areas had unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings on Friday morning, citing government data. Its account did not specify the observation hour. The reporting does not establish a national total of closed schools or affected pupils.

Malaysia’s two school-closure thresholds

Under the ministry’s rules reported by Bernama, institutions in areas with Department of Environment API readings above 180 must close from October 9. Education director-general Mohd Azam Ahmad said a separate requirement applies where readings remain above 150 continuously for three consecutive days: that rule takes effect on Monday, October 12.

Bernama reported 38 areas with unhealthy air at 3pm Malaysian time on Thursday. Segamat recorded an API of 190, Seremban 186 and Nilai 185. Those measurements precede Friday’s closures; the differently timed counts of 38 and 37 areas do not establish a like-for-like improvement in air quality.

Home-based learning and disruption for families

Mohd Azam said affected ministry institutions must maintain teaching through home-based learning. Schools must choose appropriate methods that account for pupils’ capabilities, access and needs, alongside teachers’ readiness. Teachers and support staff are also allowed to work from home during the closure period.

Fadhlina acknowledged that closures would affect parents’ daily routines and arrangements. “Moving forward, we will ensure that any decision regarding school closures is announced in advance so that parents have sufficient time to make preparations,” she said, according to CNA.

The minister said state education departments and district education offices had been instructed to monitor the haze and act immediately when required. Mohd Azam separately said education authorities must monitor API readings and respond to the specified thresholds, while the ministry seeks advice from health authorities and relevant agencies.

Johor closures followed Batu Pahat shutdowns

Johor had already announced a two-day statewide school closure beginning Thursday, October 8. CNA identified it as the first state in Peninsular Malaysia to announce temporary statewide closures during this year’s haze season.

That decision followed the closure of around 300 educational institutions in Batu Pahat district on Wednesday, October 7, after its API reached the very unhealthy range. The figure refers to institutions in that district, rather than the total affected across Malaysia.

Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali acknowledged the impact on parents and guardians who still had to work. He said assessments scheduled during the closure would be postponed, subject to decisions by the Johor Education Department and relevant parties.

Earlier haze closures and regional response

Malaysia’s Department of Environment records a precedent in its historical haze chronology: schools in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka closed on September 15, 2015, when API readings reached 200. Several of those places are affected again by the current closures.

On the regional response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had agreed to take necessary steps against the haze, with Malaysia ready to help, CNA reported. Anwar also said he had asked Malaysia’s foreign minister to push for an ASEAN ministerial meeting to coordinate support.

Those remarks describe commitments and a proposed meeting, rather than demonstrated mitigation results. Neither report establishes a general school reopening date or a confirmed ASEAN meeting schedule. Johor’s announced two-day closure does not itself guarantee when classroom teaching will resume.