THE Education Ministry (MOE) has urged all educational institutions as well as state education departments and district education offices to protect the health, safety and welfare of students during the current hot and dry spell.

In a statement, the ministry listed several preventative measures to be taken, among them are suspending all outdoor classroom activities if the weather becomes hot, halting all outdoor classroom activities when the Air Pollution Index (API) readings exceed 100, and monitoring activities that expose students to the hot weather. 

Other measures include ensuring adequate supply of clean drinking water and encouraging students to bring their own from home, providing drinking water to boarding students, and cooperating with clinics and hospitals in the event of complications arising from hot weather. 

MOE also urged all educational institutions under its jurisdiction to adhere to the established guidelines and stay informed of current air quality developments in their respective areas or districts. 

“Educational institutions must follow the recommendations of the Health Ministry and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry to protect the health of their staff and students,” it said in the statement.

Last week, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa advised people living in areas recording unhealthy air quality to stay indoors to avoid the smog and heat. 

She added that the public should wear a mask and hat, and use an umbrella to protect themselves from the sun and pollution.

On Monday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said seven areas in the peninsula were in the “warning category” for hot weather after recording temperatures of 35-37°C. – April 28, 2023.