They are SJK (T) Ladang Byram, SJK (T) Ladang Changkat, SJK (T) Nibong Tebal, SJK (C) Pai Teik, SK Seri Sentosa, SK Keledang Jaya, SK Nibong Tebal, SK Methodist, SMK Seri Nibong and SMK Methodist.

Penang education department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad told Bernama the schools would be closed because of pollution.

“We will review the decision after we assess the fire situation over the next few days,” he said.

The chief education officer for Seberang Perai Selatan district, Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad, said the decision to close the schools was made after the district disaster committee met yesterday.

He said the decision was taken after the air index within a radius of 10km of the landfill was at level three under the Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL), which was the concentration of air that could cause severe effects to the health and lives of residents.

“We will make another announcement by Saturday based on the advice of the disaster committee,” he said in a statement.

“During the closure, the students will follow the home-based teaching and learning session (PdPR) method,” he said.

“The schools have been asked to provide staff on standby tomorrow morning in case some students turn up.”

The fire and rescue department has only managed to extinguish 7% of the area affected by the fire.