GROWING concerns over worsening haze have led some parents to keep their children home from school, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory sensitivities.
Parents took to social media to share their concerns after noticing visibly heavier haze in the morning, with some saying their children had already started coughing.
One Threads user, @Ayshardzn, said simply advising people to reduce outdoor activities was not enough when children were still required to attend school.
“Children still have to go to school in conditions like this. My children have been coughing for several days. I know the school holidays are almost here, but schools should have been closed earlier. You can even feel the haze in Kuala Lumpur,” the user said in a post.
The user said a younger child had been kept home because of sensitive lungs, adding that the child’s cough had worsened.
Another user, @AisyaHasun_, questioned whether schools could be given an early break, saying the haze appeared particularly bad in the morning.
“Can the schools just be given a break? The haze this morning is really bad. I feel sorry for the children who have to go to school,” the user posted.
Another parent, @shrnshrdn, said she had also decided to keep her child at home after the child began coughing and was known to have asthma.
“I’m letting my child rest because the coughing has started and my child has asthma,” she wrote.
The Education Ministry (MOE) has previously stated that schools will be closed if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaches 200 or above.
Schools are also required to monitor API readings and take appropriate measures when air quality deteriorates, including restricting outdoor activities.
The haze affecting several parts of the Klang Valley in recent days has raised fresh concerns among parents, particularly over the exposure of young children and others who may be more vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality.
While the existing guidelines provide for school closures when API readings reach the specified level, some parents have opted to keep their children at home amid concerns over the current conditions. – August 26, 2026
