Haze: Schools in Penang to Implement Home-Based Teaching and Learning if API Hits 200 – Penang Education Department
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang State Education Department (JPNPP) will implement Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) if the Air Pollution Index (API) due to haze reaches 200.
Penang Education Director Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad said the measure is in line with the Ministry of Education’s (KPM) guidelines through the Professional Circular Letter (SPI) regarding school management during haze, which was formulated together with the Ministry of Health (KKM) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
“JPNPP will closely monitor the haze situation and will not wait until the last minute to inform if there is a need to close school operations and implement PdPR,” he told reporters after inspecting the level of preparedness for haze at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gelugor, here today.
He said his department will examine the trend of API readings at four API monitoring stations in Penang, namely Minden, Balik Pulau, Seberang Jaya and Perai, at 6 pm or 8 pm the day before to determine the action to be taken on the following day.
He said JPNPP has also set up a ‘war room’ since August 13 to make continuous monitoring of the haze situation in the state, including regarding the development of API readings, before informing the District Education Offices (PPD) to be conveyed to schools in stages.
Mohamad Dziauddin said parents also need not worry because JPNPP has a special team monitoring the haze situation with priority given to the safety, health and comfort of the school community.
He also advised schools and parents to ensure that students make early preparations, especially those who are at risk of having respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, he said JPNPP is preparing a contingency plan to face the possibility of deteriorating air quality due to haze that could affect the organisation of the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Football Championship and the 15th Malaysian Scout Jamboree (MYJAM15), which are scheduled to begin on August 28.
He said his department has held discussions with the KPM Sports, Co‑Curricular and Arts Division (BSKK) regarding preparations that need to be made if weather conditions and API readings worsen.
“Among the options being considered is to adjust the football competition schedule based on the API readings. For example, if the API reading is lower in the morning, matches can be held at that time,” he said.
Regarding MYJAM15, which is expected to gather more than 5,000 participants, Mohamad Dziauddin said the national scouting organisation is expected to discuss the initial steps to be taken, besides having set up a special operations room to monitor and manage the haze situation throughout the programme.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to officiate MYJAM15 on August 29, which will be attended by more than 5,000 local scouts and more than 450 international scouts from 11 countries including South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
BERNAMA