Online lessons for students if haze keeps schools closed - Teo

Teaching and learning sessions will be undertaken via the Internet if schools remain closed due to the haze, said Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching today.

"If this (haze) continues, we will take the same action adopted during the incident in Pasir Gudang (Johor), that is to request teachers to continue with online teaching and learning sessions," she said, referring to the closure of schools a few months ago due to incidents of pollution.

The deputy minister added that teachers at schools currently closed had already been asked to give their students tasks via the Google Classroom application.

Schools in several states across the country have been closed for a few days as Air Pollutant Index (API) readings issued by the Department of Environment in these areas breached the 'very unhealthy' category, which starts at 200.

The API comprises the following categories: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (301 onwards).

Speaking to the media after attending the prize-giving ceremony for the DKLS Linguistic Ambassador Award essay writing competition in Putrajaya, Teo said the ministry was monitoring the haze, particularly in view of the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) written examination for Form Three students scheduled to begin on Sept 30.

- Bernama