The haze is back. For many families across Malaysia this season, it has meant last-minute school closure notices, children learning at home, and constant API-checking before bed. Not sure how haze school closures in Malaysia work, or how to keep your child on track at home? This guide covers the essentials.
What the API Numbers Actually Mean
The Air Pollutant Index (API) is the number authorities use to decide whether schools stay open. Under Malaysia’s API classification, readings of 101 to 200 count as unhealthy, while 201 to 300 fall into the very unhealthy band.
Here is a quick guide to the bands:
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Moderate
- 101–200: Unhealthy
- 201–300: Very unhealthy
- Above 300: Hazardous
To check your own area, the Department of Environment publishes live readings on its official APIMS portal at apims.doe.gov.my.
When Do Schools in Malaysia Close Because of Haze?
The rules have shifted this haze season, so it helps to know the latest one. In mid-October 2026, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek raised the school closure threshold to match the National Haze Action Plan. Schools now close where the API goes above 200. They also suspend outdoor activities once readings hit 100 or more.
Before this, schools closed when the API went above 180, or stayed above 150 for three days in a row. The minister explained that closing schools days ahead could waste learning time if the air clears up. The Ministry of Health has since reinforced the 200 mark, confirming that schools and childcare centres must close once the API passes 200.
How You’ll Know If Your Child’s School Is Closed
Closures are decided by area, not nationwide. KPM has directed each State Education Director to set up a haze monitoring task force that decides daily whether schools operate as usual or switch to home-based learning, based on API readings from the Department of Environment.
On most days, the announcement is made before 5.45 pm. Parents are encouraged to follow updates through official channels from the JPN, the PPD and their child’s school, rather than relying on forwarded messages.
Can You Keep Your Child at Home If the School Is Open?
Yes. Parents who are worried about their child’s health during the haze can choose to keep them at home, as long as they inform the school first.
For children who do go to school, the minister has advised parents, students and school staff to wear suitable face masks outdoors, especially in haze-affected areas. The Ministry of Health goes a step further, recommending N95 masks outdoors and advising that co-curricular activities and outdoor exercise be suspended when the API sits between 101 and 200.
What Happens to Lessons When Schools Close?
When a school closes, learning moves home through PdPR (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran di Rumah). According to KPM’s director-general, schools must keep lessons going in a way that takes into account:
“students’ capabilities, access and needs, as well as teachers’ preparedness.”
— Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, KPM Director-General
Teachers and support staff may also work from home during closures. In practice, this means your child may receive assignments, online classes or worksheets, depending on the school.
Simple Ways to Keep Learning at Home During the Haze
Keep a school-day rhythm
Waking up, eating breakfast and starting work at roughly the usual time makes it easier for children to slip back into school mode once classes resume.
Go for short, focused sessions
Two or three 30-minute study blocks with breaks in between usually work better than one long, tiring session.
Prioritise exam subjects
If your child has an upcoming exam, use the extra time at home for topic revision and practice questions, rather than only finishing assigned homework.
Check in on how they feel
Being stuck indoors for days can be tough. A quick chat about how they are coping, or some screen-free time, can go a long way.
Stay indoors as much as possible
Keep outdoor play to a minimum while the air is unhealthy. If your child shows any breathing difficulty, seek medical advice early.
How Pandai Can Help During School Closures
Pandai is Malaysia’s online learning platform for students aged 7 to 17, built to help them learn effectively, track their progress and improve their grades, all from home. That makes it a natural fit for haze days, when classes move online and the usual routine goes out the window.
When school moves home, Pandai makes it easier to keep revision going without extra stress. Students can practise with quizzes, quiz battles and flashcards aligned to the KPM syllabus, review quick notes, and sit topical tests and exams to check how well they understand each topic. They can get unstuck on tricky questions through Ask PBot, or join live online tuition classes for subjects that need a little more guidance. For motivation, student leaderboards and academic-competition practice keep learning engaging rather than a chore.
Parents are not left out either. Detailed report cards and learning analytics make it easy to follow a child’s progress, while parental controls help keep screen time in check. And because Pandai works on phones, tablets and laptops, learning continues on whatever device happens to be at home.
Best of all, getting started takes just a few minutes. Families can download the Pandai App on the App Store or Google Play and have their child practising from home on the very same day, so a haze day off does not have to mean a day of learning lost.
Download the Pandai App today and keep your child learning, haze or shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will schools close if the API is 150?
Under the latest guideline, no. Schools close only in areas where the API exceeds 200. However, outdoor activities stop once readings reach 100 or more.
Will SPM 2026 be affected by the haze?
For now, the exam is going ahead as scheduled. Selangor’s education department has been urged to prepare a backup learning and exam plan if the haze persists, so SPM candidates are not disrupted. Students should keep checking the official Lembaga Peperiksaan channels for updates.
Where can I check the latest school status?
Follow your state’s JPN, your district’s PPD and your child’s school on their official channels. These are updated faster and more reliably than forwarded messages.
Final Thoughts
The haze is not something families can control, but staying informed and keeping a simple learning routine at home makes the disruption easier to handle. Check the API, follow official school updates, and keep learning going in small, steady steps until the skies clear.
Sources
• The Star – Schools must close if API exceeds 150 for three days (8 Oct 2026)
• Bernama – MOE reverts to National Haze Action Plan, API 200 threshold (15 Oct 2026)
• The Edge Malaysia – MOH: Schools must close if API exceeds 200 (16 Oct 2026)
• Bernama – State haze monitoring task forces decide daily school operations (10 Oct 2026)
• Business Today – Selangor seeking alternatives for SPM exam if haze drags (9 Oct 2026)