TUARAN: Eighty-three schools in Papar, Beaufort and Kuala Penyu will be closed today and tomorrow, said Sabah Education deputy director Maimunah Suhaibul.
Yesterday, she had announced 77 schools in those areas would be closed today.
The eight more schools to follow suit are SK Kimanis, SK Our Lady Fatima, SK Kelatuan, SK Tanaki, SK Tampasak and SMK Bongawan II.
“I have informed the Education Ministry of the closure of those schools due to Air Pollutant Index with readings between unhealthy and very unhealthy levels throughout the days.
“The Department of Environment has placed a portable air quality monitoring device at SMK Membakut 2 to monitor the haze situation at the three districts,” she said after the launching of the state-level 1Malaysia Reading Camp at SMK Tamparuli here.
Meanwhile, schools in Kota Kinabalu are advised to inform the Education Department should they decide to allow students to go back early due to poor air quality.
“As of now, the API reading in Kota Kinabalu is at 60, which is still moderate. We hope the situation will not affect schooling sessions. But if certain schools are badly affected due to nearby open fires, they have to ensure parents personally pick up their children, for safety purposes.”