Allow Temporary School Closure / PdPR Before API 200 When Children's Health Is at Risk

We, the undersigned parents, guardians and concerned members of the public, respectfully call upon the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM), State Education Departments (JPN) and District Education Offices (PPD) to take a more precautionary approach when making decisions about school operations during periods of haze.

We understand that the current guideline uses API 200 as the threshold for school closure.

However, we strongly believe that children's health should not depend solely on reaching a particular number.

Our school children are especially vulnerable

Primary-school children are still young. It is unrealistic to expect young children to wear a mask correctly and continuously throughout the entire school day.

They will need to remove their masks when eating and drinking, and some children may remove them because they are uncomfortable, forgetful or simply too young to understand the importance of wearing them properly.

Even with masks, their eyes remain exposed to the polluted air.

Haze can cause:

• Red and irritated eyes
• Watery or burning eyes
• Eye discomfort and conjunctivitis
• Coughing and throat irritation
• Breathing difficulties
• Other respiratory problems

What about government-school classrooms?

Many government schools are not sealed, filtered indoor environments.

Classrooms may have open windows and doors, allowing outdoor air to enter.

Many schools may also not have air purifiers or specialised air-filtration systems in every classroom.

Therefore, simply telling children to wear masks or stopping outdoor activities does not necessarily eliminate their exposure to haze.

Children can still be breathing polluted air and experiencing eye irritation while sitting inside the classroom.

Why must we wait until API reaches 200?

We are not asking for schools to close unnecessarily.

We are asking authorities to use common sense and a precautionary approach.

If the air quality is already unhealthy, particularly when haze is persistent or worsening, shouldn't the authorities also consider:

• The age of the students
• The duration of haze exposure
• The actual air quality around the school
• Whether classrooms have adequate air filtration
• Whether windows and doors are open
• Whether students are already experiencing symptoms
• Whether the haze is expected to continue or worsen

API 200 should not be treated as the only point at which action can be taken.

Why can't temporary PdPR be used?

Malaysia already has Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran di Rumah (PdPR) as an alternative when students cannot safely attend school.

When haze conditions are concerning, temporary PdPR would allow children to continue their education while reducing unnecessary exposure to polluted air.

Do we really need to wait until children develop red eyes, persistent coughing, breathing difficulties or other health problems before taking action?

Parents should not have to wait for their children to become sick and then take them to a clinic or hospital, incurring additional medical expenses, before preventive measures are taken.

Prevention should come before treatment.

OUR REQUEST

We respectfully call upon KPM, JPN and PPD to:

1. Allow schools to temporarily close and implement PdPR when haze conditions pose a significant health concern, even when API has not yet reached 200.

2. Use API 200 as an important guideline, but not the only factor when deciding whether schools should remain open.

3. Give greater consideration to the vulnerability and age of school children.

4. Consider the actual classroom environment, including open windows, ventilation and the availability of air purification or filtration.

5. Provide clear and timely communication to parents when haze conditions deteriorate.

6. Allow schools to move temporarily to PdPR when necessary to protect students' health.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH MUST COME FIRST

We fully understand the importance of education and the disruption caused by school closures.

However, temporary online learning is possible.

Health problems caused by prolonged exposure to haze should not be the price our children pay simply because an official number has not yet reached 200.

We should not wait for our children to suffer before we act.

We should not wait for red eyes, coughing or breathing difficulties before we decide that their health matters.

API is a measurement — but our children are human beings.

We therefore urge the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities to use common sense, precaution and flexibility when deciding whether schools should remain open during haze episodes.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PETITION

Protect our children.

Allow PdPR when necessary.

Take preventive action before our children become sick.

Children's health must come first.

Sign this petition if you agree that school children should not have to wait for API 200 before authorities are allowed to protect them.