KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 ― Schools nationwide can close without ministerial approval if temperatures persist above 37°C for more than 72 hours, the Education Ministry said amid complaints from parents here that Putrajaya’s heat wave measures were unsatisfactory.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan told Malay Mail Online that his ministry has provided a list of guidelines to schools, which include giving them full autonomy to decide on closure during the El Nino phenomenon.

“The ministry has given strict, concise measures to be followed during this heat wave to schools.

“Examples of no-no's are outdoor activities both during and after school hours. Also, we have directed schools to provide adequate water supply for the children,” he said when contacted.

“Other than that we have also empowered the principals to cancel school if the weather reaches certain degrees without waiting for ministerial approval,” he added.

Kamalanathan also pointed out that the same leeway was given to school heads when the nation was struck with bad haze.

Several parent groups have railed against the ministry for allegedly failing to offer effective solutions on how to help students endure the heat spell.

Shamsuddin Hamid, a coordinator of the Concerned Parents of Selangor (CPS), claimed the heat has impacted student performance and said cancelling outdoor activities has provided has not remedied the situation.

On Wednesday, Bernama reported Kamalanathan as saying that the ministry was monitoring the weather daily so that closure of schools affected by the heat could be decided in advance.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid reportedly said on Tuesday that all schools in Jerantut, Pahang and Kuala Krai, Kelantan will be closed for two days as temperatures in both regions recorded readings of 38°C.

Previously in March, the ministry also announced the closure of schools in Kedah and Perlis after the temperature recorded at 37°C for three consecutive days.

The heat wave has seen temperatures soaring to as high as 38.5°C in some areas, with the worst affected being Penang, Kedah and Perlis. Extremely low rainfall has also been recorded in Sabah and Sarawak.

El Niño is a dry weather phenomenon that leads to scorching weather across Asia and east Africa, but heavy rain and floods in South America.