Mohd Nizad Darus, 47, (left) makes sure his son Hafsyal Hafiz, 7, stays hydrated at Sekolah Kebangsaan Haji Abu Bakar, Mukim Lepai. The country is currently experiencing a heat wave that is expected to last until May or June. Photo credit: Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Due to the extreme hot and dry weather, all schools in Kedah and Perlis have been ordered to close for two days from tomorrow.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid who announced this today, said the decision was taken on the advice of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Health Ministry following rising temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius.
“Only the teaching and learning process is closed in all schools in the two states. However, the teachers need to be present in school,” he told reporters after receiving an honorary doctorate in Education from Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science (CUCMS) in Damansara, here.
Mahdzir said his ministry would also continue to monitor the weather condition in other states and would make furtner announcement based on the situation.
Yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said schools in a certain area would be closed if the temperature rose above 37 degrees Celsius for more than 72 hours.
Malaysia is now experiencing hot and dry weather due to the El Nino phenomenon and the Meteorological Department has predicted that the condition would end only in May or June. – Bernama