Haze: Negri schools, educational institutions to close tomorrow

SEREMBAN: All schools and educational institutions under the Education Ministry in Negri Sembilan will close starting Friday (Oct 9) following a decline in air quality across the state.

The closure comes after Air Pollutant Index (API) readings peaked at unhealthy levels in three major monitoring districts - Seremban, Port Dickson, and Nilai - as of 5pm today (Oct 8).

In a statement, the state Education Department said to prevent disruptions to the academic calendar, the department has ordered all affected schools to immediately transition to Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR).

"Affected educational institutions must implement PdPR to ensure the continuity of student learning," the department said.

It said following a directive from the Education Ministry, the flexibility to work from home has also been extended to teachers and administrative support staff for the duration of the closure.

The department said it will continue to monitoring the API levels and coordinate closely with federal directives issued by the ministry.

It also advised parents and guardians to stay vigilant, to monitor official air quality updates, and cooperate fully to safeguard their children’s health.

"The safety, health, and welfare of our students and the entire education community remain our absolute priority," it said.