Haze: Parents, PTA Back Batu Pahat School Closure

BATU PAHAT, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The closure of schools, kindergartens and nurseries in the district following a ‘very unhealthy’ Air Pollutant Index (API) reading has received strong support from Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) and parents, who regard the move as necessary to protect students’ health and safety.

SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar PTA deputy president Mohd Hamidi Mad Tap said the move was appropriate to minimise students’ exposure to respiratory health risks caused by the haze.

He urged parents to monitor their children at home and ensure they continue with home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) throughout the closure.

“For now, the closure is effective today. Should it be extended, parents are urged to comply with directives issued by the ministry from time to time.

“They should also ensure their children drink plenty of water and wear suitable face masks, such as N95 masks, if they need to leave home for emergencies,” he told Bernama when met at the school here today.

Mohd Hamidi said the school and PTA had assured parents that students’ academic progress would not be affected, as PdPR would be conducted according to procedures set by the Education Ministry through official platforms such as Google Classroom, WhatsApp and Telegram.

Meanwhile, Md Khadis Liman, 65, supported the continuation of PdPR, saying it would allow students to keep learning despite the closure of school facilities.

“Although schools are closed, learning must continue. We had a similar experience during the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to COVID-19 several years ago, and there is no reason it cannot be done now to safeguard our children’s health,” he said.

His grandson, SK Sri Medan pupil Haziq Safwan Hadi Sarhan, 11, said he was surprised by the sudden closure.

“I am a little nervous about PdPR this time because I have to concentrate in front of the tablet screen from early morning until noon,” he said.

Another parent, Muhammad Nur Ridzuan Khairi Adzhar, 36, said the move was particularly appropriate for primary schools as younger children were more vulnerable to health problems caused by the haze.

“The school closure is very appropriate. I only hope internet connectivity, especially in rural areas, remains good so that the PdPR sessions are not disrupted,” he said.

A Bernama check at several schools in the district found their compounds deserted, with the closure order fully complied with.

Yesterday, the Batu Pahat District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD) ordered the closure of all schools, kindergartens and nurseries in the district from today after the API reached a ‘very unhealthy’ reading of 203 at 8 pm.

The order affects 176 schools under the Education Ministry, comprising 144 primary schools, 31 secondary schools and one vocational college.

Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid also announced the closure of 106 Johor Government Religious Schools, including Integrated Religious Primary Schools (SRAB), and 53 registered Private Islamic Education Institutions (IPIS) in the district, effective today.

-- BERNAMA