PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry is waiting for the guidelines that will give a clear indication when schools would be advised to close during the extreme hot and dry weather.
Its deputy minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said it was just a matter of getting the guidelines from the experts.
"We will alert schools immediately once we get the guidelines. Schools in some states reopen this Sunday.
"Since we are dealing with children, we are very worried about the extreme heat, especially during the equinox phenomenon (starting this Sunday)," he told reporters at his office here today.
Until such guidelines are available, schools have been notified to take measures to reduce children's exposure to heat including limiting outdoor activities and by conducting noon assembly indoors, Kamalanathan said.
He was upbeat to learn that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had such guidelines that were awaiting Cabinet approval.
On the Pupils' Own Language (POL) classes, Kamalanathan said schools that have yet to conduct such classes would start immediately.
"Due to some financial issues, some schools cannot have the POL classes. Schools that have such issues should get in touch with the ministry to resolve the matter," he said, adding that the ministry had neither stopped nor abolished POL classes as claimed via social media.