Johor schools stay closed until 23 October, with 30,648 asthma and URTI cases

All schools and educational institutions in Johor will stay closed for five more days, from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October 2026, because of the haze. State religious schools are included. Johor Education and Information executive councillor Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali announced it on Saturday, according to Bernama and Kosmo.

This is the third extension, after the closures on 8 and 9 October and again from 12 to 16 October. Parents in Johor should plan for another week with children at home.

Why the closure was extended

Naqib said the decision was made at the Johor Haze Management Coordination Meeting on Saturday afternoon. He said Air Pollutant Index (API) readings "remain at concerning levels with no significant improvement".

The committee also considered northward wind movement and the weather forecast for the next three to four days. The decision follows a decree from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.

Asthma and respiratory infections are rising

Health authorities raised concern about prolonged exposure to polluted air, especially for children and vulnerable groups. According to Naqib, 30,648 cases of asthma and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) were recorded in Johor this month, a weekly increase of 20.7%.

What happens to learning and exams

• Home-based learning (PdPR) continues throughout the closure, following the Education Ministry's PdPR Manual Version 2.0.
• Limited exemptions may be considered for pupils who must sit certain exams or assessments. These depend on coordination with the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ) and strict health SOPs, with no extra activities.
• Face masks are compulsory for the pupils involved.
• JPNJ will detail the SOPs daily and, with the Examination Board, coordinate exam schedules between Education Ministry schools and Johor religious schools.
• Private educational institutions and childcare centres decide for themselves whether to open. If they do, activities must be held indoors with masks worn.

When schools reopen

There is no firm date. Naqib said reopening will be assessed from air quality, the weather forecast and current health assessments. Changes will be announced through official JPNJ channels and Media Digital Johor.

Background

Schools in Batu Pahat closed on 7 October when the API went above 200, before the closure spread statewide. For how the API rules and closure decisions work, read School closures in haze, KPM goes back to the API 200 rule, what applies now. For the earlier Johor update, see Johor schools closed until 16 October due to haze. Mask guidance is in Haze masks: MOH advises N95, and says three-ply masks give only limited protection.

Sources

• Kosmo, Jerebu: Sekolah di Johor ditutup lagi hingga 23 Oktober, 17 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today (Bernama), Johor schools to remain closed for another week, 17 October 2026
• Sinar Harian, Jerebu: Sekolah di Johor belum dibuka, penutupan dilanjutkan hingga 23 Oktober, 17 October 2026