Boarding School Students Advised To Remain In Hostels During Haze Closures, Says Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 – Boarding school students are advised to stay in their hostels during haze-related school closures, provided conditions are safe and student welfare is fully maintained, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek announced on Monday.

In a Facebook post updated on October 12, 2026, Fadhlina explained that keeping boarding students on campus prevents parents from facing repetitive travel and logistical burdens as school closures fluctuate with changing air quality.

“For boarding school students, they are advised to remain in their hostels during school closures due to the haze, provided conditions remain safe and their welfare is ensured. We do not want parents to be burdened with having to pick up and send their children back repeatedly,” Fadhlina stated.

Early Closure Notices, Inter-Agency Coordination, and Learning Continuity

The Education Ministry (MOE) outlined key operational guidelines and inter-agency efforts to mitigate learning loss while prioritizing student health:

• Early Announcement Objective: Acknowledging parental concerns, Fadhlina noted that MOE aims to release closure announcements as early as possible, though local Air Pollutant Index (API) fluctuations can cause rapid operational changes.
• Multi-Agency Responsibilities: Haze management remains a coordinated inter-agency effort—the Department of Environment monitors real-time API readings, the Ministry of Health issues public health advisories, and MOE manages school operations and student safety.
• Mitigating Learning Disruption: Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, MOE is focusing on minimizing educational gaps, recognizing that home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) access varies significantly among students.
• Continuous Monitoring: MOE will continue tracking local air quality conditions alongside state education departments (JPNs) and district education offices (PPDs) while working to enhance parent communication channels.

Fadhlina expressed gratitude to parents for their patience and constructive feedback as educational authorities navigate the ongoing haze situation across affected states.

–NMT