Culture & Entertainment · Malaysia Bureau
Bintulu schools shift to online learning as haze chokes region
Fifty-four primary and nine secondary schools in Bintulu Division will operate online classes until September 11 following hazardous air quality readings. The Air Pollutant Index exceeded 200 in the Sarawak division, prompting health and education authorities to take preventive measures.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUCHING, Sept 6 — Education authorities in Bintulu Division have suspended physical classes across 54 primary schools and nine secondary schools, shifting to online learning until September 11 due to deteriorating air quality caused by regional haze.
The decision came after the Air Pollutant Index in Bintulu surpassed the 200 mark, which falls within the "very unhealthy" category and poses significant health risks to school-age children. The haze, stemming from transboundary sources across Southeast Asia, has affected air quality throughout the region.
Authorities implemented the temporary closure to protect students' respiratory health and reduce exposure to hazardous particulates. Schools were instructed to transition to remote instruction methods to minimise disruption to the academic calendar while safeguarding public health.
The online learning arrangement applies to all educational institutions in Bintulu Division during the specified period. Authorities will reassess air quality conditions before determining whether normal classroom operations can resume after September 11.