Serian schools close temporarily due to unhealthy haze levels

All 108 schools in the Serian district of Sarawak will be temporarily closed starting tomorrow due to haze conditions. The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Serian reached 217, categorizing it as ‘very unhealthy,’ the only area in the country at that level. To ensure continuity in education, the Sarawak State Education Department has announced that students will transition to Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) during the closure.

Across Sarawak, multiple locations are recording unhealthy API levels, including Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Bintulu, Sibu, Samalaju, Sarikei, Miri, Mukah, Limbang, and Kapit. In Peninsular Malaysia, Bukit Rambai in Melaka has also recorded unhealthy levels.

Health experts, including Dr. Sapna Shridhar Patil from Taylor’s University, have warned that protection for children should not rely solely on API readings. Because children’s lungs and immune systems are still developing, they may react differently to haze based on age, health, and physical activity. Experts advise families and schools to monitor for early symptoms such as coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, and breathing difficulties, rather than just watching the numerical index.