Sarawak Orders Two-Day School Closures as Haze Worsens, Affecting 200,000 Students

Sarawak has ordered the closure of 591 schools across 10 districts for two days, starting Thursday, August 20, as haze conditions in the East Malaysian state intensify. The decision impacts approximately 197,323 students in primary and secondary schools.

The Sarawak Education Department stated that the closure is a precautionary measure to safeguard the health and welfare of students from unhealthy air quality. Home-based learning will be implemented to ensure educational continuity during the school suspension. The department will announce any further developments regarding the closure period and school reopening through official channels.

This marks the second time this month that schools in Sarawak have been forced to close due to haze. Last week, schools in Serian district were shut for three days when air pollutant index (API) levels exceeded 200. On Thursday, Serian recorded an API of 193, Kuching 190, and Samarahan 173, all categorized as unhealthy.

As of Friday morning, API levels in Serian reached 239, classified as "very unhealthy" by Sarawak's Natural Resources and Environment Board. Officials have warned that hazy conditions may persist over the weekend if biomass burning continues.

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The decision is a precautionary measure to protect the safety, health and welfare of students, particularly from the risk of exposure to unhealthy air.