KEPALA BATAS: Schools in areas affected by worsening air quality in Penang could be ordered to close and switch to home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaches 200, says the state Education Department.
Its director Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad said four monitoring stations recorded API readings above 160 as of 7am Wednesday (Sept 16), with the department continuing to receive updates every two hours.
"At 6pm and 8pm, we will (see if) the readings have reached 200, in line with the guidelines issued.
"If they do, we will inform schools about the closure... and conduct PdPR," he told reporters after the state-level Malaysia Day celebrations at Dewan Millennium here.
Dziauddin said the decision would be made according to readings at individual monitoring stations, with the relevant district education offices informing affected schools.
He said that if the API remained between 100 and 200, outdoor activities at schools would be suspended.
"We will temporarily stop activities outside the classroom," he said, adding that the department had yet to receive reports of pupils suffering health problems linked to the haze.
"However, we have informed schools that if pupils have respiratory problems or other health issues, parents can take them home earlier," he said.
He added that pupils could be allowed to stay home if their absence was related to health concerns arising from air quality.
He said the department's war room, established on Aug 13, would help it disseminate information quickly to schools.
"Schools receive information every morning, so there should be no problem informing schools by 8pm (tonight) at the latest.
"We want to give them enough time to prepare, including making arrangements with canteens and food suppliers," he said.
He added that the department would assess the movement and rate of increase in API readings before deciding, rather than relying on a single reading.
"If the 6pm reading shows a sustained increase, we will monitor it until 8pm before making the announcement," he said.
The measures could affect 398 schools and about 237,000 pupils, depending on the areas affected.
"It will be based on the areas and the respective monitoring stations.
"Parents do not need to worry as we are monitoring the situation continuously and will inform the schools accordingly," he said.
He advised pupils and the public to take precautions, including wearing face masks and avoiding prolonged exposure to open areas if air quality deteriorates.
As of 9am, Balik Pulau recorded an API reading of 164, while Minden recorded 166.
Seberang Perai and Seberang Jaya recorded readings of 160 and 162 respectively.
API readings between zero and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are categorised as hazardous.
