IPTs Given Autonomy To Adjust Learning Mode When API Exceeds 201 — MOHE

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 7 – Higher education institutions (IPTs) operating in regions with Air Pollutant Index (API) levels surpassing 201 have been granted flexibility by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to alter their teaching and learning (PdP) modes.

The directive allows universities and colleges to switch to online or hybrid learning formats to minimize health exposure while preventing disruptions to academic programs.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, MOHE announced that it is actively tracking air quality developments and has instructed all institutions under its jurisdiction to continually observe local API levels.

“MOHE will continue to monitor the situation and adjust the operations of IPTs to safeguard the health, well-being and welfare of all its members,” the ministry stated.

Health Guidelines and Operational Measures

The ministry outlined key operational guidelines for higher learning institutions to handle deteriorating air quality:

• Flexible Learning Adaptation: IPTs located in areas exceeding an API reading of 201 (classified as “Very Unhealthy”) may independently determine suitable learning arrangements to reduce physical campus presence.
• Outdoor Activity Restrictions: Institutions must evaluate and modify or postpone all outdoor activities based on real-time API monitoring.
• Official Monitoring: Campus communities are advised to rely on official environmental data supplied by the Department of Environment (DOE) and follow safety advisories issued by their respective university administrations.

Worsening Haze Conditions Across Malaysia

The ministry’s advisory comes as air quality degrades across several states, with 35 monitoring locations recording unhealthy API levels as of 10:00 AM on Wednesday.

According to the DOE’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, Batu Pahat in Johor and Johan Setia in Selangor recorded the country’s highest API levels at 190 each, closely followed by Cheras in Kuala Lumpur and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan at 189 each, and Putrajaya at 187.

Under National Air Quality Index standards, API values between 0 and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and readings exceeding 300 represent hazardous conditions.

–NMT