The Education Ministry has lowered the threshold for closing educational institutions under its jurisdiction following worsening haze conditions in several areas.

Effective tomorrow (Friday), all educational institutions under the Education Ministry in areas recording an Air Pollutant Index (API) above 180 or above 150 for three consecutive days must close to protect the safety and health of students and education personnel.

The ministry’s announcement came just hours after Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar urged for students’ health and safety to be prioritised when the API is between 150 and 180.

Education director-general Azam Ahmad said affected schools and educational institutions must also implement home-based teaching and learning throughout the closure.