Preschools to remain open even if haze hits hazardous levels: Desmond Lee

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Thank you. Uh friends of the media, colleagues, very good afternoon. Um the haze can impact health, especially our children. Uh some parents and students have also expressed concern about whether learning and examinations can continue during the haze and

how families will manage if schools have to close. Now, these are serious considerations. We must look after the well-being of our children and students, especially younger ones who are more vulnerable. So let me start with oure and spat

schools continuity plan. We consider the available forecast and advisories in order to operationalize these plans but we also assess the actual ground situation to make an informed decision. So Minister Grace Fu's earlier analogy about looking at the forecast

the day before and seeing actual conditions on ground the next day is we adopting that same framework. So the NEA haze forecast notably the 24hour PSI forecast and MO health advisories remain an important guide because they help us

plan ahead and give our parents and our students advanced notice. But our school leaders will also take into the into account the 1hour PM 2.5 readings and exercise judgment in managing school-based learning and activities and adjust the measures

where needed to safeguard the health and well-being of our students and our staff. If there's a need to move nationally, MOE will make the announcement through our schools as well as official channels. In fact, our schools have already

been taking precautionary measures by adjusting activities, deploying air purifiers, paying extra attention to students who report to be unwell and or have pre-existing conditions, and taking practical steps to reduce exposure to the haze where necessary. In implementing our

school continuity plans, we will take into consideration ground considerations, ground circumstances as well as stakeholder impact. Let me briefly set out what this means. Now, to plan for the next day's activities, we will take reference from the NEA

24hour PSI forecast the evening before. It will determine whether our preschools and schools should continue operating the next day and guide us on the measures that we should adopt. But on the actual day itself, our schools then look

at the PM2.5 onehour readings to adjust the measures on the ground because that reflects that specific moment's situation. For example, if the PM2.5 hourly reading is in the elevated range between 56 to 150, then our schools will avoid

prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities. Indoor non-strrenuous activities such as light physical exercises may continue. Even so, students who are unwell or have pre-existing heart or lung and other conditions will be excused from such activities. Schools will also

deploy air purifiers in indoor spaces such as classrooms, labs, school halls, and indoor sports halls. When the 1 hour PM2.5 reading reaches the high range, students will remain in enclosed indoor spaces with air purifiers operating. They will avoid

both outdoor activities as well as strenuous indoor activities and have their meals indoors. Schools will operate as per normal school hours, but our schools will replace outdoor activities such as outdoor CCA and camps with indoor activities where it's

possible. If not, the organizers will cancel or postpone the activities. If the PM2.5 hourly reading reaches very high levels during school operating hours, our schools will scale down lessons such as by reducing the intensity of indoor activities and

suspend all physical and after school activities. Now I mentioned earlier that in deciding the next day's school and preschool operations, we look at uh the evening before when NA puts out the the forecast, the PSI forecast. If the

24-hour PSI forecast the day before for the next day is in the hazardous range that is 300 and above, MOE, MSF, and EGA will strongly encourage parents and guardians to keep their infants and young children at home. MOE

will consider closing schools and transitioning to homebased learning for younger students from preschool up to secondary school. So, kindergarten programs, EPIC programs, EPIC P program, private programs, as well as preschool-based early intervention programs such as the development support

plus program and development support learning support program will also be suspended. But we understand that this can be challenging for parents who cannot work from home or who cannot find alternative arrangements for their children. Therefore, our MOE kindergartens

and our kindergarten care or Karee as well as EGDA licensed preschools will remain physically open. Indoor activities like reading and hands-on activities may be conducted during the opening hours and appropriate haze mitigation measures such as the use of

air purifiers in enclosed rooms will be put in place for children who report to the preschools. As for our primary and secondary schools including our spent care centers and special student care centers in our schools and spat schools

respectively. They will also remain physically open to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements. For our junior colleges, including the JC sections of our IP schools, for Millennia Institute, IT polytenics, autonomous universities, and university

of the arts. Because students are older, we will generally continue in-person lessons. However, we will also take reference from forecasts as well as actual circumstances on the ground in deciding whether to continue in-person activities or what measures should

be adopted. Let me now turn to national examinations. I know that students have been working very hard to prepare for their national exams and we want to minimize disruption for them. Students taking the OLE and A-level exams will

sit for their papers in enclosed air conditioned venues with air purifiers operating. If they are unwell and unable to take or continue with an exam, they should see a doctor, obtain a medical certificate, and apply for special consideration

through their schools. Their schools will guide them on the process. Now, should the 24-hour PSI forecast reach hazardous levels, we will consider recheduling O-level papers in line with the health advisory for younger students. The A-level papers are generally

less likely to be affected as the students are older. But as I said earlier, we will also take reference from forecasts as well as actual ground circumstances in making decisions on whether they will continue. Details of any dis

any rescheduling of O and A level papers to the earliest practicable date will be publicly announced by SEABB the examinations and assessments board. Schools will also inform students and parents directly if any national exam needs to be rescheduled

because of haze conditions. Now, there have also been circumstances where fake news about school closures have been put out on social media, causing confusion and anxiety. We request parents and students and of course the public to refer only

to updates from official channels and parents gateway. More information about any changes in theuling of O and A level exams will be available on the SEAB website.