Sarawak orders halt to outdoor school activities due to air pollution

Schools in Sarawak are directed to immediately cease all outdoor activities if the Air Pollution Index (API) exceeds 100, according to a directive from the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS). The order aims to safeguard the well-being of students during periods of hot weather and haze.

District Education Offices (PPD) and educational institutions under JPNS are reminded to consistently prioritize student welfare, health, and safety. This includes suspending outdoor classes when the weather becomes excessively hot and closely monitoring activities that could expose students to adverse conditions, ensuring their health is not compromised.

In areas recording an API above 100, all extracurricular activities involving students must be halted. This measure is part of a broader strategy discussed during a special briefing on haze management, which emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of API readings and careful management of outdoor and co-curricular activities based on current air quality and official directives.

Safety and health, particularly for students with respiratory issues like asthma, are paramount. Schools are also instructed to maintain clear and effective communication with parents. The Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Athletics Championship, scheduled for August 10-14, has been postponed due to unhealthy API levels in Samarahan, where the event was to be held. Currently, 11 areas in Sarawak have recorded unhealthy API readings, with Serian registering the highest at 190.