KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry has been urged to grant greater autonomy to district education authorities to manage haze-related disruptions and prevent unequal learning outcomes.
Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook (pic) said Tuesday (Sept 8) that the ministry must review the National Haze Action Plan (NHAP) and decentralize decision-making, allowing local officers to act based on real-time conditions rather than relying solely on national directives.
Tham was responding to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek's recent statement that parents could choose to keep their children home during haze episodes by simply notifying their respective schools.
The Parti Warisan assemblyman argued that placing the choice on parents creates an unfair burden on families. He called the current NHAP guidelines—which halt outdoor activities at an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 100 and close schools only above 200—outdated.
"Haze levels vary across districts and states. Local officers are best placed to assess the situation and make timely decisions," Tham said, proposing that schools transition to home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) or hybrid classes when facing prolonged unhealthy API levels, without waiting for the index to breach 200.
He added that protecting student health and ensuring educational continuity must be balanced through adaptive local policies and digital learning tools developed post-pandemic.
