Johor schools closed until 16 October due to haze

The Johor state government has extended the closure of all schools and educational institutions across the state for five days, from Monday, 12 October to Friday, 16 October 2026, because of the haze. The decision was made on the decree of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, according to a statement by Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, as reported by Bernama.

Why Johor schools are closed until 16 October

According to the statement, the state government took into account:

• Forecast winds from the direction of Kalimantan between 13 and 15 October, which could carry transboundary air pollution into Johor.
• API (Air Pollutant Index) readings between 170 and 180, with static atmospheric conditions that could make the haze linger.
• The risk of breathing problems among children, pupils and teachers.

Exams and PdPR in Johor

School assessments and exams during this period are postponed and will be rescheduled according to instructions from the Johor State Education Department (JPN). PdPR (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran di Rumah, or home-based teaching and learning) continues where suitable.

Johor API readings and unhealthy areas, 11 October

As of 9am on Sunday, 11 October, 15 areas recorded unhealthy air quality, according to the Department of Environment's APIMS portal as cited by Bernama and Sinar Daily.

Another 50 areas recorded moderate levels, and three areas good levels.

What API readings mean

As a guide, an API of 0 to 50 is good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.

KPM's API rules for closing schools

The Education Ministry (KPM) uses two rules, as set out in our earlier report, Haze shuts schools in four states, KL and Putrajaya. Here are the new API rules:

• Schools in areas with an API above 180 are closed.
• Areas that record an API above 150 for three consecutive days are closed from 12 October.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that schools in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu would operate as usual on Sunday, 11 October, as API readings were still under control.

For other states, decisions are now made daily by the Haze Monitoring Task Force Committee at each state education department, based on Department of Environment API data. The State Education Director will decide whether schools open or switch to PdPR.

When KPM announces school closures

KPM has set announcement times so that parents and boarding school pupils can plan their travel:

Follow official notices from the JPN and PPD (district education office), and your child's school's communication channels.

Cause of the haze: Malaysia and Indonesia discuss solutions

In Jakarta, Indonesian Communication Agency head Syahganda Nainggolan confirmed that the foreign ministers of both countries are discussing how to cooperate on tackling forest and land fires. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had contacted President Prabowo personally.

Indonesia's Forestry Ministry reported 437 high-confidence hotspots as of 9pm on Friday, up from 387 the day before. Of these, 270 were in six priority provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and 61 aircraft were deployed for firefighting, aerial patrols and cloud seeding.

Frequently asked questions about the haze and school closures

How long are schools in Johor closed?

All schools and educational institutions in Johor are closed from Monday, 12 October to Friday, 16 October 2026.

Why are Johor schools closed again?

API readings in Johor are between 170 and 180, and winds from the direction of Kalimantan between 13 and 15 October are expected to bring more transboundary pollution. The decision was made on the decree of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.

Are school exams in Johor cancelled?

They are postponed, not cancelled. They will be rescheduled according to instructions from the Johor JPN. PdPR continues where suitable.

At what API reading are schools closed?

Schools in areas with an API above 180 are closed. From 12 October, areas that record an API above 150 for three consecutive days are also closed.

Are schools in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu open?

Yes, schools in all three states operate as usual on Sunday, 11 October. After that, decisions are made daily by each state's JPN.

How do I know if my child's school is open tomorrow?

Wait for your state JPN's announcement, made before 5.45pm (or 2.45pm on the day before the school week starts), and check the school's official channels. Current API readings are on the Department of Environment's APIMS portal.

What API reading is considered unhealthy?

An API of 101 to 200 is considered unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.

Further reading on the haze

• The first closures and KPM's API rules: Haze shuts schools in four states, KL and Putrajaya. Here are the new API rules

Sources

• Bernama, Haze: Johor Extends Closure Of Schools, Educational Institutions Until Oct 16
• Bernama, Haze: Schools In Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu To Operate As Usual Tomorrow
• Sinar Daily, 15 areas record unhealthy air quality, Pasir Gudang worst hit
• Bernama, Haze: Malaysia, Indonesia Discuss Joint Solutions