1 Thank you, media friends and colleagues. Very good afternoon.
2 The haze can impact health, especially our children. Some parents and students have also expressed concerns about whether learning and examinations can continue during the haze, and how families will manage if schools have to close. These are serious considerations. We must look after the well-being of our children and students, especially younger ones who are more vulnerable.
School continuity measures
3 Let me start with our MOE and SPED schools' continuity plan.
4 We consider the available forecasts and advisories in order to operationalise 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 the ground the next day.
5 So, the NEA haze forecast, notably the 24hr PSI forecast and MOH health advisories remain an important guide because they help us plan ahead and give our parents and our students advance notice. But our school leaders will also take into account the 1-hour PM 2.5 readings and exercise judgement 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.
6 If there is a need to move nationally, MOE will make the announcement through our schools as well as official channels.
7 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.
8 In implementing our school continuity plans, we will take into consideration ground circumstances as well as stakeholder impact. Let me briefly set out what this means:
9 Now, to plan for the next day's activities, we will take reference from the NEA 24-hour PSI forecast the evening before.
10 It will determine whether our preschools and schools should continue operating the next day, and guide us on the measures that we should adopt.
11 But on the actual day itself, our schools then look at the 1-hour PM 2.5 readings, to adjust the measures on the ground, because that reflects that specific moment's situation
PM2.5 Elevated
12 For example, if the PM 2.5 hourly reading is in the elevated range [56 – 150], then our schools will avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities. Indoor non-strenuous activities such as light physical exercises may continue. Even so, students who are unwell or have pre-existing heart or lung, or 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.
PM2.5 High
13 When the 1-hour PM2.5 reading reaches the high range [151 - 250], 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.
14 But our schools will replace outdoor activities (such as outdoor CCAs and camps) with indoor activities where its possible. If not, the organisers will cancel or postpone the activities.
15 If the PM2.5 hourly reading reaches very high levels (251 and above) 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.
PSI forecast in Hazardous range
16 Now, I mentioned earlier that in deciding the next day's school and preschool operations, we look at the evening before when NEA puts out the forecast, PSI forecast. If the 24-hour PSI forecast the day before for the next day is in the hazardous range and is 300 and above, MOE, MSF and ECDA will strongly encourage parents and guardians to keep their infants and young children at home. MOE will consider closing schools and transitioning to home-based learning for younger students from preschool up to secondary school.
17 So, Kindergarten programmes, Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC and EIPIC-P) programmes, private programmes, and as well as preschool-based early intervention programmes such as the Development Support-Plus programme and Development Support-Learning Support programme, will also be suspended.
18 But we understand that this can be challenging for parents who cannot work from home or who cannot find alternative arrangements for their children.
19 Therefore, our MOE Kindergartens (MKs) and our Kindergarten Care (KCare) as well as ECDA-licensed preschools will remain physically open. Indoor activities like as 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.
20 As for our primary and secondary schools (including our SPED schools), as well as Student Care Centres and Special Student Care Centres in our schools and SPED schools respectively, they will also remain physically open to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements.
21 For our Junior Colleges (including the JC sections of our Integrated Programme schools), Millennia Institute, ITE, polytechnics, Autonomous Universities and University of the Arts, because students are older, they 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.
National Examinations
22 Let me now turn to National Examinations.
23 I know that students have been working very hard to prepare for the national exams, and we want to minimise disruption for them.
24 Students taking the O- and A-Level exams will sit for their papers in enclosed air-conditioned venues with air purifiers operating.
25 If they are unwell and unable to take or continue with an exam, they should see a doctor, obtain a medical certificate (MC), and apply for special consideration through their schools. Their schools will guide them on the process.
26 Now should the 24-hour PSI forecast reach hazardous levels, we will consider rescheduling 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 forecast as well as actual ground circumstances in making decisions on whether they will continue.
27 Details of any rescheduling of O- and A-Level papers to the earliest practicable date will be publicly announced by the Singapore Examinations and Assessments Board (SEAB). Schools will also inform students and parents directly if any national exam needs to be rescheduled because of haze conditions.
28 Now, there have also been instances where fake news about school closures have been put out on social media, causing confusion and anxiety. We request parents, students and the public, to refer only to updates from MOE's official channels and Parents Gateway. More information about any changes in the scheduling of O- and A-Level exams will be available on the SEAB website.
29 Let me say a few words in Chinese.
30 烟霾能影响健康，特别是孩子的健康。一些家长和学生也担心，学习和考试能否继续进行，以及如果学校必须停课，家庭应该如何应对。这些都是我们必须认真看待的重要问题。
31 学校已经做好相应的准备。我们会根据国家环境局一小时PM2.5浓度，及时做出适当的调整。如果空气质量恶化，学校会停止户外及剧烈的活动，并让学生留在设有空气净化器的室内空间。如果情况进一步恶化，我们也会适当调整课程，降低活动量并且取消课后活动。
32 我们也理解，如果学生需要居家学习，一些家长可能无法居家办公，也难在短时间内另作安排照顾孩子。因此，学校和学生托管中心将继续开放，为有需要的学生提供照顾与看护。
33 至于考试，我们知道学生为此付出了很多努力，也理解他们面对不确定情况的担忧。如果根据健康指引，必须延期举行 O- 或 A-水准考试，我们会尽量把受影响的时间安排在最早可行日期，并及时通知学生和家长。
34 网上有时会流传学校停课的消息。请大家以教育部官方渠道和 Parents Gateway 发布的信息为准。
35 请大家放心，学生和老师的健康，始终是我们的首要考量。我们已经做好准备，也会根据情况及时采取必要的措施。我也希望大家能够继续互相关心、互相照顾，共同应对。谢谢。