The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau’s (DSEJ) Youth Education Department head Leong Vai Kei said that to ensure schoolchildren’s safety during extreme weather conditions the government planned to implement new measures during very low and very high temperatures.
According to Leong, once the temperature is recorded at 3 degrees Celsius, all kindergartens, primary schools and special education schools will be ordered to close for the day. If the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius all schools will close.
Leong also said that if the temperature rises above 38 degrees Celsius, all kindergartens, primary schools and special education schools will close for the day while if it reaches 40 degrees Celsius all schools will close.
Leong made the remarks at the bureau after a closed-door meeting of the government-appointed Non-Tertiary Education Council.
She said that during the meeting DSEJ officials told the council members about the possible changes to the current regulations on measures to be taken by schools during extreme weather such as typhoons or torrential rains.
Leong said that considering climate change over the past few years and the “extremely low” temperatures recorded earlier this year, the bureau was proposing the new measures.
In January, lowest temperatures were recorded at 1.6 degree Celsius in Taipa, the lowest in 67 years.
According to current regulations, when a rainstorm signal or the No. 3 cyclone signal is hoisted by the observatory all the city’s kindergartens, primary and special education schools will close for the day.
Leong did not say when she expected the new rules to take effect.
(macaunews/macaupost)
