Three ministries to jointly decide on school closures amid haze
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said school closure decisions during the haze will be made jointly by the Education, Health and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability ministries, based on air quality and health data.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek announced that any decision to shut schools because of the persistent haze will involve the Education Ministry, Health Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, each contributing its expertise. Decisions will hinge on real-one outlet air-quality monitoring and health considerations, seeking to balance student safety with the risk of extended learning disruption.
She said the three ministries will convene as needed to evaluate the situation, emphasizing a careful, guided process. The comments were made following the Anti-Bullying Literacy programme celebrating the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 at the Teacher Education Institute’s Bahasa Melayu campus in Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister’s Department minister Azalina Othman Said also attended. Officials hope any closures remain brief to limit educational impact while protecting public health.
Why it matters
Coordinated ministry decisions will affect millions of students' safety and learning during hazardous haze conditions.
In this story
Related stories
2 in this thread