By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 20: A total of 591 primary and secondary schools in Sarawak have been ordered to close temporarily from today until tomorrow (Aug 21) as worsening haze pushed air quality in several parts of the State to unhealthy levels.
The Sarawak Education Department (JPN Sarawak) said the closure, effective immediately on Aug 20 and Aug 21, involved 509 primary schools with 107,590 pupils and 82 secondary schools with 89,733 students.
The affected schools are under the supervision of 10 district education offices (PPDs) covering Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu and Betong.
The department said the decision was made based on Air Pollutant Index (API) readings recorded as of 3pm today.
“JPN Sarawak has always placed strong emphasis on safeguarding the welfare, health and safety of students, particularly when dealing with hot weather or any unforeseen weather conditions,” it said in a statement today.
It said the hot weather affecting the country had also caused several locations in Sarawak to record API readings at unhealthy levels.
JPN Sarawak said any changes or latest developments regarding the school closures would be announced from time to time. — DayakDaily
