KUCHING: Parents in Serian heaved a sigh of relief as schools reopened after a three-day closure last week due to unhealthy haze conditions.
At SMK Tarat, Gilbert Albert said he was thankful that the haze had cleared, allowing his Form Three daughter to return to school.
“Our children’s health is the main priority. At the same time, it is difficult for my daughter to study online at home.
“It is easier for her to understand what the teacher is saying while in class.
“Typing questions is not the same as asking the teacher directly,” he said.
Fabian Joseph shared a similar view, saying his Form Five son found studying at home challenging, particularly when he had questions.
“There is no teacher there whom he can ask, so it is good that he can go back to school,” he said after dropping his son off at SMK Serian.
Nor Syahira Abdullah said her daughters, who are in Forms Four and Five at SMK Serian, continued following their school timetable at home during the temporary closure.
“Their teachers texted them about homework so they could keep up with their studies.
“The school also conducted online classes for Form Five students. At least my daughters could continue with their schoolwork, although I could only monitor them by phone because I was at work,” she said.
Nor Syahira said she was relieved that air quality had improved, allowing students and teachers to return to school in safer and more comfortable conditions.
A total of 107 schools in the Serian division were temporarily closed last Wednesday after the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 200, a level classified as very unhealthy.
The closure involved eight secondary and 99 primary schools and was extended until Friday, despite the API subsequently falling below 200, as a precaution to safeguard the health and safety of students and school staff.
Home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) was implemented during the closure to ensure students could continue their lessons.
On Sunday, the state Education Department announced that schools in Serian would reopen the following day.
Air quality in Sarawak continued to improve yesterday, with all areas recording moderate API readings of between 55 and 94 as of 11am.
