Culture & Entertainment · Malaysia Bureau
Penang schools to shift online when haze air quality deteriorates
The Penang Education Department has established an emergency coordination centre to monitor air quality and prepare for potential disruptions to classroom learning. Schools will transition to home-based learning once the Air Pollutant Index reaches 200.
LSN Malaysia ·
GEORGE TOWN — The Penang Education Department has set up a dedicated operations centre to track air quality conditions and coordinate a swift response to haze episodes affecting the state's schools.
Under the contingency plan, all schools in Penang will shift to home-based teaching and learning once the Air Pollutant Index breaches the 200 threshold, which indicates unhealthy air quality. The measure aims to protect student and staff health during periods of severe air pollution.
The department said it has been coordinating with meteorological agencies and environmental authorities to establish clear trigger points for implementing the online learning protocol. Schools have been instructed to ensure teaching materials and digital infrastructure are ready for rapid deployment should air quality deteriorate.
Educators have also been advised to prepare contingency lesson plans to minimise disruption to the academic calendar. Parents will be notified through official channels when the decision to switch to home-based learning is activated.
The move reflects growing concerns over transboundary haze in the region during dry seasons, which has previously disrupted academic calendars and posed health risks to students.