Education Ministry: 115 schools in Selangor, 53 in Negri to close due to haze Wednesday (Sept 18)

A school in Puchong, Selangor which was closed to to the haze on Sept 17, 2019. - RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: A total of 115 schools in Selangor and 53 in Negri Sembilan will be closed on Wednesday (Sept 18) due to the haze.

In a statement on Tuesday (Sept 17) night, the Education Ministry said it had received a report that the closure would affect 113,699 students from 115 schools in the districts of Sepang, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Klang and Sabak Bernam.

The ministry noted that the decision was made by the respective district education offices according to the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Johan Setia, Nilai and Seri Manjung areas as of 4pm.

During the time of writing (10pm), these three locations has API readings at 232,205, and 223.

Other areas with unhealthy readings are Sri Aman and Kuching, Sarawak.

API reading of between 0 and 50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and above 300 (hazardous).

"Any changes or latest information will be updated from time to time.

"School authorities are reminded to follow the standard operating procedures that has been set and to prioritise the health of the students and teachers at all times," the Ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, 138 schools in the districts of Sepang, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Klang and Petaling Perdana were closed due to the haze.

In another statement, the ministry said that 53 schools in Negri Sembilan would close on Wednesday.

"Schools in Nilai and Mantin will be closed because as of 9pm today (Sept 17), both areas have continued to register very unhealthy API.

"But schools in Port Dickson would re-open as the situation in the district has improved," it said.

Earlier today, the state authorities ordered 112 schools in Port Dickson and Nilai to be closed when both areas registered very unhealthy API readings.