Johor has ordered all schools in the state to close on 8 and 9 October 2026 because of worsening haze and concerns over students’ health.
The decision was announced on 7 October following a directive from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. Johor’s Education and Information Committee chairman, Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, said the closure was a precaution to protect students.
His statement put the number affected at 617,258 students across 1,198 schools administered by Malaysia’s Education Ministry.
Lessons Will Continue From Home
Students will continue learning from home during the two-day closure.
Assessments scheduled for the affected period will be moved to other dates. The Johor Education Department and relevant authorities will determine the revised arrangements.
Naqib acknowledged that working parents and guardians would need to adjust their plans. He appealed to employers to accommodate affected staff through suitable work arrangements.
He also urged families to keep an eye on children’s health, limit time outdoors and ensure they drink enough water. Parents should seek medical attention promptly if their children develop symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or breathing difficulties, he said.
The state government and relevant agencies will continue tracking air-quality readings.
Batu Pahat Had Already Closed Schools
The statewide decision follows an earlier closure order in Batu Pahat, covering schools, kindergartens and childcare centres from 7 October.
The district’s disaster management committee said its Air Pollutant Index, or API, stood at 203 at 8pm on 6 October.
Malaysia classifies API readings from 101 to 200 as unhealthy. Readings from 201 to 300 fall into the very unhealthy category.
Poor air quality persisted elsewhere in Johor the following evening. Malaysian public broadcaster RTM reported that readings in the state ranged from 167 to 179 at 7pm on 7 October, within the unhealthy band.
Singapore Also Recorded Unhealthy Air Quality
Across the Causeway, Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index readings of 105 to 140 at 6pm on 7 October, placing all five regions in the unhealthy range.
NEA advises people to consult one-hour PM2.5 readings when deciding on immediate outdoor activities. The 24-hour PSI forecast is intended to guide plans for the following day.
When the PSI is unhealthy, healthy people should cut back on lengthy or vigorous physical activity outdoors. Children, pregnant women and older people should keep such activity to a minimum, while those with chronic heart or lung conditions should avoid it.
