KUANTAN: Schools in Kuantan and Rompin will be closed tomorrow due to worsening haze, the Pahang Education Department said.
In a statement, the department said all educational institutions under its jurisdiction in the two districts would be temporarily closed from Oct 13, pending further instructions, following the haze and prevailing Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
"During the closure, Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) will be conducted through suitable methods, taking into account students' capabilities, access and needs, as well as teachers' readiness.
"The reopening of schools will be announced through the department's official channels once conditions and API readings are deemed safe for operations to resume," it said in a statement.
The department said educational institutions in both districts had been instructed to minimise activities that could expose students and the education community to unhealthy air.
"Students, teachers and the education community are advised to take appropriate measures to safeguard their health, welfare and safety.
"Continuous monitoring will be carried out in collaboration with the Rompin and Kuantan district education offices and relevant agencies to ensure appropriate action is taken," it said.
The department also instructed all educational institutions in the two districts to monitor API readings continuously and comply with directives issued by the Education Ministry, Department of Environment and Health Ministry.
As of 5pm, two monitoring stations in Pahang had recorded unhealthy air quality, with Balok Baru in Kuantan registering an API reading of 162 and Rompin recording 155.
Last Friday, all educational institutions in Rompin were temporarily closed for a day due to worsening haze.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
