S'pore schools taking precautionary measures based on hourly PM2.5, like avoiding outdoor activities & providing air purifiers

Singapore schools have been taking precautionary measures amid the worsening haze, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said on Oct. 16 during a press conference on the haze situation.

Lee said Ministry of Education (MOE) schools and Special Education (SPED) schools have been adjusting activities and deploying air purifiers.

They have also been paying "extra attention" to students who report being unwell and/or have pre-existing health conditions, and taking practical steps to reduce exposure to haze where necessary.

School continuity measures

Lee also set out school continuity plans, having taken into account "ground considerations... and stakeholder impact".

Lee said schools will take reference from the National Environment Agency's (NEA) 24-hour PSI forecast the evening before to plan for the next day’s activities.

The forecast will determine whether preschools and schools should continue operating the next day, and guide what measures to adopt, he added.

On the actual day, schools will look at the PM 2.5 hourly readings to adjust the measures on the ground, Lee said.

If the PM 2.5 hourly reading is in the Elevated range (56-150), Lee said schools will avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities.

While indoor non-strenuous activities may continue, students who are unwell or have pre-existing heart or lung conditions will be excused from these activities.

Meanwhile, schools will also deploy air purifiers in indoor spaces, such as classrooms, labs, school halls, and indoor sports halls, Lee shared.

If PM2.5 is High

When the one-hour PM2.5 reading reaches the High range (151 - 250), schools will operate as per normal school hours, but students will avoid both outdoor activities and strenuous indoor activities, and have their meals indoors.

Schools will also replace outdoor activities (such as CCAs and camps) with indoor activities where possible, Lee said.

If PM2.5 is Very High

However, if the PM2.5 reaches Very High levels (251 and above) during school hours, schools will scale down lessons, such as by reducing the intensity of indoor activities, and suspend all physical and after-school activities.

Some schools may close if Hazardous range forecasted

Lee said that MOE will consider closing schools and transitioning to home-based learning for younger students from preschool to secondary level if the 24-hour PSI forecast for the following day is in the Hazardous range (301 and above).

Parents and guardians are also strongly encouraged to keep their infants and young children at home.

Kindergarten programmes, Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC and EIPIC-P) services, and preschool-based early intervention programmes, will also be suspended.

"We understand that this can be challenging for parents who cannot work from home or who cannot find alternative arrangements for their children," Lee said.

As such, MOE Kindergartens and Kindergarten Care as well as ECDA-licensed preschools will remain physically open, he said.

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.

Primary and secondary schools (including SPED schools), as well as student care centres and special student care centres in schools, will also remain physically open to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements, Lee said.

Meanwhile, tertiary institutions and autonomous universities, as well as the University of the Arts Singapore, will generally continue in-person lessons, while taking reference from actual circumstances.

This is because the students are older, Lee explained.