Malaysia Haze Schools: Johor Reopening 26–28 October and Sarawak Closures

Verified on the evening of 25 October 2026, Malaysia time. This is an editorial update prepared for JomGuide's existing nationwide haze school-closure guide (#104). There is no single nationwide reopening date for every school. Parents must check their own state, school category, examination timetable and latest official notices.

School reopening and closure status for 26 October

The 25 October Johor statement supersedes the more general 24 October news about all educational institutions reopening on Monday. In the latest two-stage plan, exam candidates return first.

Johor: what happens on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday?

Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October: Schools may operate for pupils who need to take scheduled examinations. The state government also cited preparation for SPM and the Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA).

Wednesday 28 October: Schools throughout Johor are scheduled to resume normal operations, conditional on developments in air quality. It is a planned date, not an unconditional guarantee.

The Johor State Education Department (JPNJ) will coordinate health and safety precautions, including face masks and monitoring school activities in response to the Air Pollutant Index.

Read the official Johor state announcement dated 25 October. Do not rely solely on a forwarded message quoting Saturday's older announcement.

Why are some Sarawak schools closing instead?

The Sarawak State Education Department confirmed 27 school closures in Tebedu, Serian for 26 October. These are not Johor schools. Home-based teaching and learning will be used. SPM candidates can continue in-person sessions subject to the department's safeguards.

The department also indicated that closures would apply to schools under its supervision in districts registering API above 200, and schools near affected districts could consider home-based arrangements. Parents must still consult local instructions rather than extrapolating a single rule to every school nationwide.

Source: Bernama's report of Sarawak JPN's 25 October statement.

Government schools, kindergartens and religious schools

KPM schools: Check Ministry of Education announcements, the relevant state (JPN) and district (PPD) education departments, and the individual school.

Private and international schools, kindergartens and childcare centres: These may have distinct operational arrangements. Check the institution's official site and its relevant supervising authority rather than automatically applying a government-school exam timetable.

Religious schools: Administration may involve state religious-education authorities as well as education departments. Verify which pupils, exams and dates are actually covered.

These distinctions do not imply that a particular category is definitely open or closed; they prevent an unjustified one-size-fits-all claim.

How to check the latest official school notice

1. Start with your school's website or official communication channel, looking for a dated update covering the specific class and exam.
2. Check your state education department (JPN) and district education office (PPD).
3. See the Ministry of Education's official media statements.
4. For air quality, consult the Department of Environment's APIMS portal. An API reading helps explain the situation but is not itself a substitute for your school's attendance notice.

Does API 100, 150 or 200 automatically mean closure?

Not necessarily. School activity restrictions, closures and exam arrangements are separate questions under haze management guidelines. The exact current directive for a location should come from the responsible education authorities. In particular, API 150 does not mean every Malaysian school automatically closes.

For the underlying pollution levels, see JomGuide's API explainer.

Frequently asked questions

Must every Johor child return on 26 October? No. The 25 October phase-one statement limits attendance on 26–27 October to pupils required to sit examinations on their scheduled dates.

Is 28 October guaranteed for all Johor pupils? It is the planned full reopening date, conditional on air quality and later instructions.

Are the 27 closed schools in Johor? No. They are in Tebedu, Serian, Sarawak.

Are all other Malaysian schools open? There is no basis for that blanket claim. Check the latest instructions in the relevant state.

Sources: Official Johor state statement · Sarawak JPN statement via Bernama · KPM announcements · DOE APIMS.