Some schools may be closed if PSI enters ‘hazardous’ range, but preschools to remain open

MOE to consider closing schools, rescheduling O-Level exams if PSI enters ‘hazardous’ range

With the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) likely to enter the “hazardous” range, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will consider closing schools up to secondary level.

But preschools will remain open, as working parents may not be able to find other arrangements for their children, said Education Minister Desmond Lee at a press conference on Friday (16 Oct).

Schools may transition to HBL if PSI is ‘hazardous’

If the PSI for the next day is forecast to be in the “hazardous range”, i.e. a reading of 300 and above, MOE will consider closing schools for younger students.

That means those from preschool up to secondary school will transition to home-based learning (HBL), previously effected during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This also includes the suspension of the following programmes for young children:

• Kindergarten programmes
• Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC and EIPIC-P) programmes
• Private programmes
• Preschool-based early intervention programmes such as the Development Support-Plus programme and Development Support-Learning Support programme

Preschools to stay open with haze mitigation measures

While the authorities will “strongly encourage” parents and guardians to keep their infants and young children at home during “hazardous” PSI, Mr Lee acknowledged that this can be “challenging” for parents.

In particular, parents who cannot work from home or who cannot find alternative arrangements for their children, he noted.

Thus, the following will remain physically open:

• MOE Kindergartens
• Kindergarten Care
• Preschools licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)

Haze mitigation measures such as the use of air purifiers will be put in place for children sent to the preschools, while indoor activities may be conducted during opening hours.

Other schools that will remain physically open are primary and secondary schools, Student Care Centres and Special Student Care Centres in the schools, to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements.

O-Level exams may be rescheduled upon ‘hazardous’ PSI forecast

As for national exams, MOE will consider rescheduling the O-Level papers if the PSI enters the “hazardous” range.

The A-Levels are “less likely” to be affected as the students are older, but MOE will consider actual ground circumstances when deciding whether to postpone them or not.

Any postponement of exams due to haze will be announced by the Singapore Examinations and Assessments Board (SEAB), with schools also informing students and parents directly, he noted, adding:

I know that students have been working very hard to prepare for the national exams, and we want to minimise disruption for them.

Public urged to refer to official channels for news

Mr Lee then turned to the fake news about school closures that have emerged on social media, saying they have caused “confusion and anxiety”.

He requested that parents, students and the public refer only to updates from MOE’s official channels and Parents Gateway.

If there is a need to make any national moves, MOE will make announcements through these channels, with any changes to exam schedules available on the SEAB website, he noted.

Also read: N95 masks to be distributed if S’pore PSI enters ‘very unhealthy’ range, preschools to cease outdoor activities

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Featured image adapted from Chan Chun Sing on Facebook.