KUALA LUMPUR - Schools in Malaysia may close if temperatures exceed 37 degrees Celsius for three days in a row, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh has said.

The measure is part of guidelines set by the ministry since 2023 and can be implemented if hot and dry conditions worsen, Wong told a media briefing on Friday.

"Outdoor school activities must also be suspended if temperatures range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days, including cross-country runs, camping, drills and other outdoor activities," he said.

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The ministry has instructed all education administrators to monitor daily temperature levels at schools and within their respective districts.

Persistent high temperatures in recent days have prompted the Malaysian Meteorological Department to issue warnings covering several areas in Peninsular Malaysia.

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The high temperatures are expected to last until June as the Southwest Monsoon season begins, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said in a recent statement.