Culture & Entertainment · Malaysia Bureau
School closures during haze to be jointly decided by education and health ministries
Malaysia's Education Minister says any decision to shut schools due to haze will be made collaboratively with the Health Ministry rather than unilaterally. The coordinated approach aims to ensure consistent and informed responses to air quality concerns affecting students.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUALA LUMPUR — Schools closures triggered by haze conditions will be determined through joint consultation between the Education and Health ministries, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said on Saturday. The collaborative decision-making process seeks to balance concerns over air quality and student health while minimizing educational disruption during periods of poor air quality. The minister's statement comes as Malaysia braces for potential haze episodes during the dry season, when transboundary smoke from regional sources has historically affected air quality across the country. Under the coordinated approach, authorities will monitor air quality indicators and health impacts before determining whether educational institutions should remain open or close their doors. The joint review mechanism represents an effort to establish clear, consistent protocols for managing school operations during environmental challenges, ensuring decisions are grounded in both educational and public health considerations.
Photo: Malaysian Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (right) meets Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Kuala Lumpur, August 2025. Press Information Department, Government of Bangladesh, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).