Haze: Schools must close once API exceeds 200

PETALING JAYA: Schools must be closed once the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 200, said the Education Ministry. 

In a statement Monday, it also said that schools must not carry out activities outside the classrooms when the API is more than 150.

“Heads of schools must inform the district education office and state education departments if there is a need to close their schools,” it said.

The API in Klang Valley was highest in Banting 176 and in other areas Kuala Selangor (Selangor) 145, Port Klang 174, Petaling Jaya 153, Shah Alam 156, Batu Muda (Kuala Lumpur) 169, Cheras 155, Putrajaya 159.

In Malacca, Bandaraya Melaka reads 151 and Bukit Rambai (Malacca) 169, and in Negri Sembilan, Nilai was Nilai 175, Port Dickson 170 and Seremban 167.

In Perak, Jalan Tasek 145, Kampung Air Putih, Taiping 131, SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh  154, Seri Manjung 171.

In Penang, the hard hit areas are Perai 115, Seberang Jaya 2 138 and USM 137.

Other areas: Larkin Lama (Johor) - 103, Muar 132, Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani (Kedah) 120, Balak Baru 126, Indera Mahkota (Pahang) 111, Jerantut (Pahang) 117, Samarahan (Sarawak) 104, Sarikei 123, Sri Aman (Sarawak) 138.

Air quality with API readings of 0-50 is categorised as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (hazardous).

The ministry said it was monitoring the haze situation in areas where the API was more than 100.

“The schools must inform parents if their children are having health problems as a result of the haze. They also need to refer to the district health office or the nearest health clinic,” the ministry said.

School heads and teachers were told to monitor the API readings.

The school authorities can also refer to the ministry’s circular on the haze dated Aug 7, 2013, or guidelines dated Feb 26, 2014, on caring for students during the hot weather. The guidelines are still in place.