The Ministry of Education (MOE) and schools have in place a school continuity plan to ensure the well-being of our students and staff during a haze situation. Schools are ready to respond and take appropriate haze management measures based on a set of guidelines corresponding to the health advisory.
The well-being of all students remains a key priority. Teachers will be on the lookout for students who are unwell and ensure that these students receive medical attention promptly. For students who have pre-existing heart or lung conditions, schools have a list of these students' names and will also be monitoring their well-being.
As children respond differently to haze, parents should ensure their children have their medication, such as inhalers for asthma, with them. Parents should also take their children to seek medical attention if they are unwell and ensure that their children take their medication to school or arrange for alternative care arrangements to care for them at home.
Continuity Plan for Primary and Secondary Schools
All primary and secondary schools have in place a set of haze management plans and are ready to implement the appropriate haze management measures as required. A broad overview is provided below:
- See more at: https://www.moe.gov.sg/haze-management-measures#sthash.mnSPqfCr.dpuf
The Ministry of Education (MOE) and schools have in place a school continuity plan to ensure the well-being of our students and staff during a haze situation. Schools are ready to respond and take appropriate haze management measures based on a set of guidelines corresponding to the health advisory.
The well-being of all students remains a key priority. Teachers will be on the lookout for students who are unwell and ensure that these students receive medical attention promptly. For students who have pre-existing heart or lung conditions, schools have a list of these students' names and will also be monitoring their well-being.
As children respond differently to haze, parents should ensure their children have their medication, such as inhalers for asthma, with them. Parents should also take their children to seek medical attention if they are unwell and ensure that their children take their medication to school or arrange for alternative care arrangements to care for them at home.
Continuity Plan for Primary and Secondary Schools
All primary and secondary schools have in place a set of haze management plans and are ready to implement the appropriate haze management measures as required. A broad overview is provided below:
| Index Category |
Management Measures |
≤100
(Good/Moderate) |
|
101-200
(Unhealthy) |
- Schools will minimise outdoor activities such as outdoor assembly, outdoor camps and sports activities.
- Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be notified.
- Students with pre-existing lung and heart conditions or are unwell will be exempted from all physical exercise.
|
201-300
(Very Unhealthy) |
- There will be no physical exercises (indoor and outdoor).
- Classroom lessons will continue, but lessons may be modified as appropriate. For instance, students may be assigned work that can be completed at their desks.
- Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be notified.
- Students with pre-existing lung and heart conditions will be moved to enclosed indoor spaces, such as school library.
|
> 300
(Hazardous) |
If PSI reaches 'Hazardous' level during school hours:
- Schools will scale down lessons.
- All students, including those with pre-existing lung and heart conditions, will be in enclosed indoor spaces, including classrooms with doors and windows fully closed. Schools will spread out students across the enclosed indoor spaces, such as the library, to allow for better thermal comfort and ventilation.
- Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be notified.
|
*Following the completion of our haze management review, MOE will be deploying air purifiers to all school classrooms in 2016 to further enhance the well-being of our students and staff and better protect them from the effects of haze.
Closure of Primary and Secondary Schools
The Ministry will consider closing all primary and secondary schools to students when the health advisory for the next day indicates that the air quality will be at the hazardous level. School-based student care centres will operate during periods of closure. We will announce the closure of schools at around the same time that the health advisory is released. Schools will also contact parents to inform them of the closure of schools for students via phone or SMS.
We seek parents' and employers' understanding that relatively short notice for any announcement of school closure could be given. We also wish to encourage parents to make advance care arrangements for their children for such an eventuality. Under those circumstances, we urge employers to exercise greater workplace flexibility in enabling their employees to care for their children.
Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs) and Junior Colleges
The Ministry works closely with junior colleges / centralised institute and PSEIs to ensure the well-being of their students. Junior colleges / centralised institute and PSEIs are monitoring the haze situation and will adopt appropriate management measures in accordance with the health advisory. If necessary, outdoor activities may be replaced with alternative indoor arrangements, postponed or cancelled.
The considerations for closure of these institutions are different. This is because most of the teaching and learning takes place in enclosed indoor spaces, such as lecture theatres, and the students are older.
The Ministry and schools will monitor the haze situation closely and take appropriate management measures, together with our schools and institutions, based on the health advisory corresponding to the air quality.
National Examinations
In the event of school closure, national examinations will be rescheduled. The announcement on the rescheduling of examinations would be made together with any announcement by MOE on school closure. School candidates will be informed through their schools. Private candidates will be informed by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).
When schools remain open and the national examinations proceed as scheduled, the safety and well-being of all examination candidates remain our top priority. Schools have made arrangements for all national examinations candidates to take their papers in enclosed spaces. Air purifiers will also be provided so that it is safe for the examinations to continue without disruption, even if haze conditions unexpectedly worsen during the period of the examinations.
Candidates with underlying medical conditions or who feel unwell should seek medical attention. Those who are medically certified unwell and are unable to sit for the examinations should inform their schools. Private candidates should inform the SEAB through MOE’s Customer Service Hotline at 6872 2220. Hotline operating hours are 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
- See more at: https://www.moe.gov.sg/haze-management-measures#sthash.mnSPqfCr.dpuf
APFP 2010-2014