Kuala Lampur, Oct. 19 -- As many families were settling in for the night, phones across Malaysian homes suddenly lit up with an announcement that caught parents off guard.

No school tomorrow.

Not because of a public holiday or examination break, but because the air outside had become unhealthy.

Today, schools across several states and affected areas are closed because of the worsening haze.

And just like that, many Malaysians had almost relegated to the Covid-19 years returned to our vocabulary: PdPR, Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran di Rumah, or home-based teaching and learning.

For some students, the announcement may have sounded like wonderful news. No school!

For parents, the reaction was probably rather different. Who will look afte...