Schools in Malaysia to close from tomorrow if haze index tops 180, Education Ministry says

In response to the deteriorating haze conditions in Malaysia, the Education Ministry has mandated the closure of schools and educational institutions in areas where the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 180 starting October 9, 2026.

Institutions in locations with API readings above 150 for three consecutive days will close effective October 12, 2026.

Schools are required to transition to home-based learning to ensure educational continuity.

Continuous monitoring of air quality will be conducted in collaboration with the Health Ministry and relevant agencies to safeguard the health and safety of students and staff.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Schools and educational institutions under the Education Ministry in areas where the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 180 must close from tomorrow (October 9), as authorities step up measures to protect students and teachers from the worsening haze.

Schools in areas where API readings remain above 150 for three consecutive days must also close from Monday, October 12, the ministry said in a statement today.

The directive follows concerns raised by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the health and safety of students amid the haze affecting parts of the country.

In the statement, Education director-general Datuk Mohd Azam Ahmad said the ministry was acting to prevent students and education personnel from being exposed to air pollution that could harm their health.

“All educational institutions under the Education Ministry in areas where API readings exceed 180, based on records from the Department of Environment, must close from Friday, October 9, 2026,” he said.

“Areas recording API readings above 150 continuously for three consecutive days must close from Monday, October 12, 2026.”

Affected schools must switch to home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) to ensure lessons continue during the closures.

“Schools and educational institutions under the ministry that are affected are required to conduct home-based teaching and learning sessions,” Mohd Azam said.

He added that schools must ensure lessons continue through appropriate methods that take into account students’ capabilities, access and needs, as well as teachers’ preparedness.

Teachers and support staff will also be permitted to work from home during the closures, the ministry said.

State Education Departments, district education offices and educational institutions have been instructed to monitor air quality continuously and take appropriate action when pollution levels exceed the stipulated thresholds.

“The Education Ministry will continue to monitor developments from time to time and seek advice from the Health Ministry and relevant agencies to ensure the safety, health and welfare of students and education personnel are protected, in accordance with the decree of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Mohd Azam said.

The latest directive comes as haze continues to affect air quality in parts of Malaysia, raising concerns over prolonged exposure to pollutants, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups.

Under Malaysia’s API classification, readings of 101 to 200 are considered unhealthy, while those between 201 and 300 are classified as very unhealthy.

The directive does not amount to a nationwide school shutdown, with closures determined by air quality readings in the affected areas.

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为应对马来西亚日益恶化的雾霾状况，教育部已下令，自 2026 年 10 月 9 日起，空气污染指数 (API) 超过 180 的地区的学校和教育机构必须关闭。

2026 年 10 月 12 日起，API 读数连续三天超过 150 的地区的机构将关闭。

为确保教育的连续性，学校必须过渡到居家学习模式。

我们将与卫生部及相关机构合作，持续监测空气质量，以保障学生和教职员工的健康与安全。

吉隆坡，10 月 8 日讯——为保护学生和教师免受日益严重的雾霾影响，教育部下属的学校和教育机构，凡空气污染指数 (API) 超过 180 的地区，必须从明天（10 月 9 日）起关闭。

教育部今天在一份声明中表示，如果API读数连续三天保持在150以上，则该地区的学校也必须从10月12日星期一开始关闭。

该指令源于最高元首对该国部分地区受雾霾影响，学生健康和安全受到威胁的担忧。

教育总监拿督莫哈末阿扎姆·艾哈迈德在声明中表示，教育部正在采取行动，防止学生和教育人员暴露于可能损害其健康的空气污染中。

他说：“根据环境部的记录，所有教育部下属的、空气污染指数（API）读数超过 180 的地区的教育机构，必须从 2026 年 10 月 9 日星期五起关闭。”

“从 2026 年 10 月 12 日星期一开始，连续三天 API 读数超过 150 的地区必须关闭。”

受影响的学校必须转为居家教学（PdPR），以确保停课期间课程能够继续进行。

“受影响的教育部下属学校和教育机构必须开展居家教学和学习课程，”莫哈末·阿扎姆说。

他还补充说，学校必须确保课程继续进行，并采用适当的方法，考虑到学生的能力、机会和需求，以及教师的准备情况。

教育部表示，停课期间，教师和辅助人员也将被允许在家工作。

已指示各州教育部门、地区教育办公室和教育机构持续监测空气质量，并在污染水平超过规定阈值时采取适当措施。

“教育部将继续密切关注事态发展，并根据最高元首陛下的法令，向卫生部和相关机构寻求建议，以确保学生和教育人员的安全、健康和福祉得到保护。”莫哈末·阿扎姆说。

最新指令出台之际，雾霾持续影响马来西亚部分地区的空气质量，引发人们对长期接触污染物的担忧，尤其是对儿童和其他弱势群体而言。

根据马来西亚的API分类，读数在101到200之间被认为是不健康的，而读数在201到300之间则被归类为非常不健康。

该指令并不意味着全国范围内停课，停课与否将根据受影响地区的空气质量读数来决定。

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