KUALA LUMPUR: The worsening haze situation has forced 636 government schools involving 445,249 students in several haze affected-states to be closed on Tuesday.
The Education Ministry in a statement said 201 schools in Selangor have been ordered to close, involving 240,447 students, followed by Sarawak (298 schools with 128,291 students) and Negri Sembilan (112 schools with 48,980 students).
In Putrajaya, 25 schools were closed following the deteriorating air quality, affecting 27,531 students.
There are 25 schools in the administrative capital, comprising 15 primary and 10 secondary schools.
The ministry said 12 private schools involving 7,432 students were also closed.
They involve five schools in Selangor with 1,843 students, Kuala Lumpur (four schools with 3,392 students), Putrajaya (two schools with 2,125 students) and Negri Sembilan (one school with 72 students).
In Perak, 23 schools in Manjung and Hilir Perak districts have been ordered to close, involving 7,286 students.
The state Education Department in a statement said the move was made after the Air Pollution Index (API) reading reached over 200 in the two districts.
The affected schools in Manjung are SK Seri Manjung, SK Kampung Dato Seri Kamaruddin, SK (ACS) Sitiawan, SK Convent, SK Simpang Empat, SK Pangkalan TLDM, SMK Ambrose, SMK Seri Manjung, SMK Ahmad Boestamam, SMK Nam Hwa, SMK Methodist (ACS) Sitiawan, SMK Seri Samudera, SMK Tok Perdana and SMK Dato Idris.
The affected schools in Hilir Perak are SMK Convent, SMK Raja Muda Musa, SMK Dato Sagor, SMK Horley Methodist, SMK San Min, SMK Sultan Abdul Aziz, SMK Sultan Abdullah and Kolej Vokasional (Pertanian) Teluk Intan.
According to a circular issued by the ministry dated Jan 1 this year, if the Air Pollution Index (API) level goes beyond 100 which is categorised as unhealthy, all out-of-classroom or outdoor activities are to be stopped.
If the API hits 200, which is very unhealthy, all schools in the affected areas or districts must be immediately shut down.
If the API breaches 500, which is the 'emergency' level, all teachers and staff are not required to be in school.