By Stacey Chia And Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 29 Jun 2013
SCHOOLS will reopen on Monday as scheduled, but the Education Ministry has drawn up plans to cope should the haze worsen.
All primary and secondary schools may close if the Pollutant Standards Index reading hits "hazardous" levels of 300 and above. Should that happen, schools will inform parents via phone or SMS at about 6pm the day before closure, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah said yesterday.
The O-level and N-level oral examinations next month will also be rescheduled if schools are closed.
Childcare centres will follow suit if primary and secondary schools close, but universities, polytechnics, junior colleges and the Institute of Technical Education may not, as they have more enclosed indoor spaces and their students are older, so they should be able to cope better.
If the closure is prolonged, such as for two days or more, schools will carry out e-learning for their students. Ms Indranee urged parents to make advance care arrangements, such as having someone who would be able to take care of their children.