Schools and educational institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE) are allowed to close without waiting for official approval from the ministry.
This applies when a Level 2 heatwave warning is issued, where daily maximum temperatures exceed 37°C for three consecutive days.
This follows the MOE’s guidelines on school closures during extreme heat, published in 2023, which remain applicable under current weather conditions.
Schools to close under level 2 heatwave
According to the Utusan Malaysia, the guidelines empower school administrators to make closure decisions independently but require them to immediately notify the state and district education offices through both verbal and written communication using appropriate channels.
If temperatures reach the Level 2 heatwave threshold, school management must submit an official notice stating the school will be closed immediately.”
The notice must also include supporting documents that outline the risk assessment carried out by the management prior to deciding on the closure.
Parents must be informed, make-up classes may be required
School administrators are also required to inform parents and guardians of the closure and the school’s reopening schedule. In addition, they must announce the dates for replacement classes, if applicable.
However, the ministry clarified that if approval is granted for the classes to be waived, schools are not required to reschedule them.
The MOE emphasised that these procedures aim to ensure an orderly and transparent process for school closures. Above all, the health, safety, and wellbeing of students must remain the top priority when considering whether to suspend classes due to extreme weather.
