More schools to close

No classes today: A pupil standing next to a notice of school closure at SK Taman Desaminuim in Serdang.

PETALING JAYA: More schools throughout the country are expected to close as the Air Pollutant Index (API) continues to rise.

As at 7pm yesterday, API readings surpassed 200 in affected areas, forcing a total of 671 schools to close its doors.

The Education Ministry in a statement said that 659 government schools in Sarawak, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan and Perak were closed due to worsening haze, involving 452,535 school children.

Selangor has the highest number of students affected -- 240,447 students from 201 schools.

This is followed by Sarawak, with 128,291 students from 298 schools stopping classes till further notice.

Others involved are 48,980 students from 112 schools in Negri Sembilan and 27,531 students from 25 schools in Putrajaya.

In Perak, 7,286 students from 14 schools located in Manjung and nine schools in Hilir Perak stopped schooling temporarily.

The remaining 12 schools from the 671 which also closed on Tuesday were private schools involving 7,432 students in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Negri Sembilan.

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

“School authorities are reminded to follow the standard operating procedures that have been set and to prioritise the health of the students and teachers at all times, ” said the ministry.

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