Haze: Which schools are closed on Monday? Here's the list
Johor: All schools and educational institutions statewide will be closed from Oct 12 to 16. Selangor: Schools under the Hulu Langat, Gombak and Petaling Perdana district education offices (PPD). Kuala ...
Source: Malaysiakini · October 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s Education Ministry lowered the air‑pollution threshold for school closures on Thursday, prompting state education departments to announce which schools will shut from Monday, Oct 12, as the haze season intensifies.
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The move follows a call by Yang di‑Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for schools in areas recording Air Pollutant Index (API) readings between 150 and 180 for prolonged periods to be closed. Under the new rule, schools will be closed if API readings exceed 180, or if they stay above 150 for three consecutive days, a reduction from the previous 200‑point trigger.
State education offices were tasked with monitoring the Environment Department’s API reports and deciding on closures. The ministry’s list shows that Johor will suspend all schools and educational institutions statewide from Oct 12 to Oct 16, while Malacca will also close every institution under the ministry’s jurisdiction. In Selangor, schools under the Hulu Langat, Gombak and Petaling Perdana district education offices (PPD) will shift to Home‑Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR).
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will see closures for schools under the Bangsar/Pudu PPD. Perak’s state education department will close all institutions, including those in the Kinta Utara, Kinta Selatan and Kuala Kangsar districts.
Conversely, Negeri Sembilan announced that all educational institutions under its state education department will operate as usual. Schools in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Penang, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will also continue normal face‑to‑face lessons.
Parents were urged to follow official announcements from the Education Ministry and their respective state education departments, as arrangements may change depending on API readings and further directives. The ministry’s guidance emphasises that closures will be enforced only when the Environment Department’s readings exceed the stipulated limits.
The revised threshold aligns with the Agong’s earlier appeal for stricter action during periods of sustained haze. By lowering the trigger from 200 to 180, and introducing a three‑day watch‑list at 150, authorities aim to reduce students’ exposure to hazardous air quality while maintaining continuity of learning through PdPR where closures occur.
The decision arrives as the region grapples with recurring trans‑boundary haze, which has historically disrupted schooling and economic activity. By delegating monitoring to state education departments, the ministry seeks a more responsive approach, allowing rapid implementation of closures or the continuation of in‑person classes based on real‑time data.
No further statements were released regarding the impact on examination schedules or private‑sector schools, and the ministry did not comment on any additional measures beyond the API‑based criteria.