Schools In Five States Reopen Monday With Strict Haze Safety Protocols

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18  – Educational institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE) across Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, and Penang will reopen and resume normal operations on Monday, October 19, 2026, accompanied by strict health directives to protect students from ongoing atmospheric haze.

State Education Departments (JPN) across the five affected states released simultaneous advisories on Sunday evening, outlining precautionary safety measures, outdoor activity suspensions, and examination reschedules based on localized Air Pollutant Index (API) benchmarks.

While physical classes resume, school administrators have been instructed to closely monitor real-time API monitoring feeds from the Department of Environment (DOE) and give special attention to students with high-risk respiratory conditions.

“Parents or guardians who are concerned about their children’s health may choose not to send them to school, provided that they notify the school,” the Selangor State Education Department confirmed in an official statement.

State-by-State Directives, Exam Postponements, and Preventive Measures

Education authorities across the five states have introduced tailored operational guidelines to handle the haze situation:

• Selangor Protocols: All physical outdoor activities remain strictly suspended, while students are strongly encouraged to wear protective face masks on school grounds. Parents opting to keep children home due to health concerns must formally inform school administrators.
• Negeri Sembilan Exam Postponements: The State Education Department ordered the immediate postponement and rescheduling of End-of-Academic-Session Examinations (UASA) alongside all internal school assessments during this haze period. Outdoor activities must halt immediately if API readings breach 100.
• Melaka API Monitoring: Melaka JPN mandated continuous DOE API reading checks by school heads, advising parents and guardians to rely strictly on verified state JPN communications for operational updates.
• Pahang Operational Directives: Schools across Pahang, including the Bentong district, will operate as normal, though all outdoor sports and physical activities remain suspended until further notice.
• Penang Hydration and Masking Push: Penang Education Department (JPNPP) urged students to stay well-hydrated and wear masks, directing school authorities to ensure uninterrupted clean drinking water supplies across all campuses.

State education departments confirmed they will continuously review air quality indexes alongside the Ministry of Health and DOE to adjust operational directives if pollution levels deteriorate further.

–NMT