GEORGE TOWN, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- The Penang Education Department (JPNPP) will implement home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) in schools if the Air Pollutant Index (API) due to haze reaches 200.
Its director Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad said the move was in line with guidelines set by the Ministry of Education (MOE) through the circular on school management during haze, which was drawn up jointly with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
“JPNPP will closely monitor developments related to the haze and will not wait until the last minute to inform schools if there is a need to suspend school operations and implement PdPR,” he told reporters after assessing the haze preparedness level at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gelugor here today.
He said the department would assess API reading trends at four API monitoring stations in Penang, namely Minden, Balik Pulau, Seberang Jaya and Perai, at 6 pm or 8 pm the previous day to determine the necessary action for the following day.
He said JPNPP had set up a ‘war room’ on Aug 13 to monitor the haze situation in the state from time to time, including developments in API readings, before informing the district education offices (PPD) to relay the information to schools in stages.
Mohamad Dziauddin said parents need not worry as his department 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 remind students to make early preparations, especially those at risk of respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, he said JPNPP was preparing a contingency plan to deal with a possible deterioration in air quality due to the haze, which could affect the hosting of the Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Football Championship and the 15th Malaysian Scout Jamboree (MYJAM15), scheduled to begin on Aug 28.
He said discussions had been held with the MOE’s Sports, Co-Curriculum and Arts Division (BSKK) regarding the preparations should weather conditions and API readings worsen.
“One of the options being considered is to adjust the football match schedule based on API readings. For example, if the API reading is lower in the morning, matches could be played at that time,” he said.
Regarding MYJAM15, Mohamad Dziauddin said the national scouting organisation is expected to discuss necessary early measures, in addition to 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 Aug 29, which will be attended by more than 5,000 local scouts and over 450 international scouts from 11 countries, including South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
-- BERNAMA