By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 24: The Sarawak Education Department (JPN Sarawak) has ordered the temporary closure of 34 schools in Lundu and all schools in Serian today following a deterioration in air quality caused by worsening haze conditions, with Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) to be implemented.
In a statement, JPN Sarawak said the closure in Lundu involves 31 primary schools and three secondary schools under the Lundu District Education Office (PPD), effective immediately, after the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 200 at 8am today.
Meanwhile, all primary and secondary schools under the Serian PPD were also directed to close today after API readings recorded at 10pm yesterday (Sept 23) also surpassed the 200 mark.
JPN Sarawak said PdPR sessions would be conducted in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s Circular No. 8/2016 on Guidelines for Managing Teaching and Learning During Disasters, dated July 21, 2016.
The department added that headteachers and principals of schools located near districts recording API readings above 200 may also consider implementing PdPR, taking into account the health and safety of students and staff.
Should air quality improve and API readings fall below 200, school administrators may begin making the necessary preparations for schools to resume operations, it said.
Schools have also been reminded to comply with the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and refer to the Ministry of Education’s Circular No. 1/2019 on measures to safeguard the health and safety of students in schools located in areas affected by critical haze conditions.
Educational institutions were urged to closely monitor developments through the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) for API readings in their respective districts and to follow the Ministry of Health’s health advisories and recommendations from time to time.
JPN Sarawak reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of the education community throughout the haze episode. – DayakDaily
