School will re-open on Monday as planned, but the Education Ministry (MOE) has drawn up plans including closing schools if the haze reaches hazardous levels.

MOE will consider closing all primary and secondary schools when the daily health advisory for the following day indicates that the air quality will hit the hazardous level. Parents will be notified at around 6pm through a telephone call or text message.

If the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) rises to a hazardous level while classes are ongoing, plans include closing all classroom windows and doors and moving classrooms to enclosed indoor spaces, such as the library and school hall.

MOE noted that considerations are different for students at junior colleges, polytechnics, Institutes of Technical Education and universities, as most lessons take place in enclosed indoor spaces and the students are older. The Ministry will however work closely with these institutions to ensure the well-being of their students, it said. The Education Ministry announced this on Friday evening at a press briefing held at the National Environment Agency.