SHAH ALAM, Oct 15 — School administrators should be empowered to suspend operations when Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceed the threshold set by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The National Parent-Teacher Association Consultative Council (PIBGN) president said such a move would allow schools to prepare for home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) while making arrangements easier for parents.
Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan said the approach would enable school administrators to make decisions earlier without having to wait for announcements from the ministry or state education departments.
“Allowing schools to announce closures would hopefully make arrangements easier for everyone. What matters most is that students can continue their learning,” he told Media Selangor.
He said the proposal should be given serious consideration by all parties, particularly as many schools were currently conducting year-end examinations.
According to Dr Mohamad Ali, the current practice of announcing school closures in the afternoon was less effective and should be replaced with a faster, more efficient approach.
“Waiting could lead to delays. The important thing is to follow the guidelines. However, schools must also work closely with district education offices to coordinate their decisions,” he said.
On October 8, Education Director-General Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad announced that starting from October 9, all institutions under the ministry in areas recording API readings above 180 would close.
He said the closures followed a decree by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, that schools in haze-affected areas should be closed if API readings remained between 150 and 180 for a prolonged period.
School administrators must ensure that teaching and learning continue through suitable methods, taking into account students’ capabilities, access and needs, as well as teachers’ readiness.
