School closures during the crackdown on student health

CLOSING of schools during rush hour is not just a decision to stop learning sessions, but rather preventive measures to reduce exposure of students and schoolchildren to polluted air especially when the Air Pollution Index (IPU) reading rises to very unhealthy levels.

The Malaysian Ministry of Education stipulates that when IPU exceeds 100, all out-of-classroom activities involving students should be discontinued. If readings exceed 200, schools in affected areas may be closed on the advice of the State Education Department and Regional Education Office as well as a decision by the school administrator. The learning will be continued using the Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR) method.

Dr. Nurzawani Md Sofwan

Children breathe more air per kilogram of body weight than adults, making them more prone to the effects of air pollution. Children also have smaller airways and a still developing immune system. They also tend to be more physically active, causing their breathing rate to increase when playing or exercising.

An academic review in the journal Breathe by Aithal et al. (2023) linked air pollution to an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, impaired lung function and asthma emergence or arthritis. Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter and other pollutants is also associated with hospitalization of children due to pneumonia.

Why is school given priority?

First, schools bring together many children in the same room and on the same schedule. If air quality deteriorates, reducing activity or school closures can simultaneously reduce exposure. Children are more vulnerable because they breathe more air than their body size, have smaller airways and a still-developing immune system.

Secondly, most schools in Malaysia use natural ventilation systems, which are windows and doors that open to allow outdoor air into the classroom. In a foul state, this method can cause particulate pollutants to enter the learning space through airflow and infiltration (infiltration), i.e. outdoor air entry into buildings via openings, gaps or building designs. A study by Othman et al. (2019) at schools around Kuala Lumpur found a very high penetration rate of fine particles with diameters less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) between the outer and inner classrooms (I/O ≈ 1). During frostbite, open-ventilated school structures failed to block fine particles, causing air quality in the classroom to be equally unsafe with the outside and increasing student respiratory health risks.

Third, schools have activities that increase air intake, including meetings, physical education, sports training and leisure time. When students actively move outside, they inhale more polluted air. Therefore, a ban on extra-curricular activities is usually the first step before full closure.

This priority does not mean that only the students are affected. The Ministry of Health also listed gold citizens, smokers, asthmatics, bronchitis, chronic lung disease, heart disease and allergies as risk groups. However, children are given special attention because their lungs and immune systems are still developing.

The decision to close the school should be made based on local IPU readings, exposure time, weather conditions and health advice. In lower reading conditions, schools can reduce exposure by stopping outdoor activities, closing doors and windows if appropriate, as well as moving activities to indoors with better ventilation.

At the same time, parents should monitor symptoms such as persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, or very sore eyes. Students with asthma or respiratory illness should follow their treatment plan and seek medical advice if the condition worsens.

School closures may affect learning and family routines, but in highly polluted air conditions, the temporary costs must be compared to the risk of leaving thousands of students remaining exposed. Priority is given to schools because they are a large, organized and more easily protected children's focal point through an administrative decision. The measure is preventive, reducing exposure before respiratory symptoms and asthma attacks become more serious.

(This article was written by Senior Lecturer, Atmospheric Environment & Air Quality Research Initiative Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM Branch Sarawak, Dr Nurzawani Md Sofwan)