Education minister: Parents have discretion in having kids stay home from school if haze worsens

Parents can keep children home from school due to health concerns from the haze, after informing the school, according to Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.

The Education Ministry is monitoring Air Pollutant Index readings and will take actions based on the National Haze Action Plan.

Outdoor activities are suspended when API readings exceed 100, and schools close when they exceed 200, with Samarahan, Sarawak recently reporting a reading of 226.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Parents may choose not to send their children to school if they are concerned about their health amid the haze currently affecting the country, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.

She said parents only needed to inform the school if they decided to keep their children at home.

"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,” she said in a Facebook post today.

She said the ministry would continue to monitor Air Pollutant Index (API) readings issued by the Department of Environment (DOE), as well as the latest situation, particularly in affected areas.

Fadhlina said any measures taken would be based on the National Haze Action Plan.

"When the API reading exceeds 100, all outdoor activities are suspended. When it exceeds 200, schools are closed,” she said.

According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal this morning, Samarahan, Sarawak was the only area to record a very unhealthy reading, at 226.

Meanwhile, 40 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy readings and 24 recorded moderate readings. — Bernama

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教育部长拿督斯里法德琳娜·西迪克表示，家长可以因雾霾引起的健康问题而让孩子待在家中不去上学，但需事先通知学校。

教育部正在监测空气污染指数读数，并将根据国家雾霾治理行动计划采取相应措施。

当 API 读数超过 100 时，户外活动暂停；当 API 读数超过 200 时，学校关闭。砂拉越州三马拉汉最近报告的读数为 226。

吉隆坡，9月7日讯——教育部长拿督斯里法德琳娜·西迪克表示，如果家长担心目前影响全国的雾霾天气会影响孩子的健康，他们可以选择不送孩子上学。

她说，只有当家长决定让孩子待在家中时，才需要通知学校。

“我理解家长们对目前雾霾情况的担忧。我们听到了这些担忧。我们采取的一切行动，始终将孩子的健康和安全放在首位，”她今天在脸书上发帖说。

她表示，该部将继续监测环境部发布的空气污染指数（API）读数，以及最新情况，特别是受影响地区的状况。

法德利纳表示，采取的任何措施都将以国家雾霾行动计划为依据。

“当API读数超过100时，所有户外活动都将暂停。当读数超过200时，学校将关闭，”她说。

根据今早空气污染指数管理系统（APIMS）门户网站的数据，砂拉越州三马拉汉是唯一一个记录到非常不健康读数的地区，读数为 226。

与此同时，全国共有40个地区的空气质量指数达到不健康水平，24个地区的空气质量指数达到中等水平。——马新社

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如果柔佛州API（学术表现指数）达到200，该州将关闭全州学校，目前已有四个地区的API超过100。

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