JOHOR BARU: All schools in Johor will reopen on Monday following an improvement in the haze situation, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings declining across the state over the past five days.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision was made at a meeting of the Johor State Disaster Management Committee, based on assessments by relevant agencies.
He said changing wind directions, rising humidity and forecast rain were expected to help ease the haze, while health risk assessments by the Johor Health Department had been taken into account to safeguard pupils, teachers and school staff.
"The reopening is also important to ensure pupils can sit their year-end examinations and prepare for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination," he said in a statement today.
The Johor Education Department will coordinate compliance with existing safety and health standard operating procedures (SOPs), including the use of face masks and close monitoring of school activities based on current API readings and prevailing guidelines.
Naqib said the state government and relevant agencies would continue to monitor the situation, with any further measures announced through official channels.
He said the state remained committed to protecting the health and safety of school communities while ensuring that pupils' education was not disrupted.
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