BEAUFORT: The Sabah Education Department has ordered 77 primary and secondary schools in three districts of Papar, Beaufort and Kuala Penyu to be closed tomorrow due to the unhealthy air index recorded there.
State education deputy director Maimunah Suhaibul announced this is after making a working visit to two schools in Membakut, Sekolah Kebangsaan Binsuluk and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Membakut 2, which are also affected.
"Our reading is different from the normal Air Pollutant Index (API) caused by haze because we have heavy smoke caused by open fires. Only yesterday, Membakut recorded an index of 279 due to the rampant open fires.
"We will review the order to close schools on a day to day basis depending on the readings. So far, no other schools in other districts reported reaching 200 on the index.
"If there is an open fire near a school and there is thick smoke, the principal or headmaster can make the decision to close school so long as they inform the district education office first," she said.