KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will follow the Education Ministry's recommendation to temporarily close schools in the state if temperatures soar.
Sabah minister in charge of education Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said the state would comply with the Education Ministry's circular to close schools in the event a heat wave is announced.
Mohd Arifin said school principals and headmasters in the state have been given the authority to close the school if the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) announces a heat wave, which is when temperatures exceed 37°C for three consecutive days
"Administrators must be alerted to the current situation," he said, in a statement here on Wednesday (May 3).
Mohd Arifin, who is also the Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said schools must inform parents or guardians in writing if they decide to shut the school.
He added the Education Department would also work with the state to provide the latest weather information in Sabah.
Mohd Arifin also urged schools to stop all outdoor activities when the temperature exceeds 35°C to avoid untoward incidents.
He said for now, all schools in the state remain open, but with outdoor activities kept to a minimum.
The Education Ministry provided guidelines on school closure during the hot season in a circular dated April 28.
Guidelines state that each school's management needs to monitor daily temperatures in their respective districts according to MetMalaysia.
