Some schools suspend outdoor activities as haze worsens

ST20261013_202646000283/pixhaze13/Jason Quah A bird flies in hazy conditions in Bukit Batok on Oct 13, 2026. At 11am the 24-hr PSI is 174 and the 1-hr PM 2.5 is 125 in the west. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Vanessa Paige Chelvan

Published Oct 14, 2026, 05:02 PM

Updated Oct 14, 2026, 05:02 PM

SINGAPORE - Some schools in Singapore are cutting back on outdoor activities, as hourly PM2.5 concentrations reached the very high range in the west of the island on the afternoon of Oct 14.

Maris Stella High School has cancelled outdoor sports activities, while Nan Hua High School said it has cancelled at least one co-curricular activity (CCA).

CHIJ (Kellock), a primary school, informed parents on Oct 14 that all outdoor activities, including physical education lessons and outdoor play, would be suspended on Oct 15 and 16.

During recess, pupils who bring packed food will eat in their classrooms, while those who buy food from the canteen or have pre-ordered meals will return to their classrooms after eating, the school said on Parents Gateway.

The one-hour PM2.5 reading for Western Singapore was 288 as at 3pm, and 251 as at 4pm. An hourly PM2.5 reading above 250 indicates a very high concentration of fine particles in the air.

At such levels, the National Environment Agency (NEA) advises the public to minimise outdoor activities for the next hour. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic lung or heart disease, are advised to avoid outdoor activities altogether.

The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast for the city-state remains in the unhealthy range.

According to the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) website, schools are to adjust the level and nature of their activities based on hourly PM2.5 readings, which can fluctuate throughout the day.

In a Facebook post on Oct 10, Education Minister Desmond Lee said lessons and national examinations have continued in enclosed venues with air purifiers, and schools are ready to step up measures if needed.

Should next-day forecasts enter the hazardous range with a 24-hour PSI exceeding 300, MOE may consider school closures and the postponement of national examinations, Lee added.

“Any decision to close schools will be announced by around 8pm the day before through schools and MOE’s official channels,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely each day and review whether schools should stay open or be closed the next day.”

Vanessa Paige Chelvan is an education correspondent at The Straits Times. She also writes the occasional commentary on parenthood, work and family life.

Education and schools

ST20261013_202646000283/pixhaze13/Jason Quah 2026年10月13日，一只鸟在武吉巴督的雾霾中飞翔。上午11点，西部地区的24小时大气污染指数（PSI）为174，1小时PM2.5浓度为125。ST摄影：JASON QUAH

凡妮莎·佩奇·切尔万

发布于 2026 年 10 月 14 日下午 5:02

更新于2026年10月14日下午5:02

新加坡——10 月 14 日下午，新加坡西部地区的 PM2.5 小时浓度达到非常高的水平，因此新加坡的一些学校正在减少户外活动。

玛丽斯特拉中学取消了户外体育活动，而南华中学表示已取消至少一项课外活动。

圣婴女校（凯洛克校区）小学于 10 月 14 日通知家长，所有户外活动，包括体育课和户外游戏，将于 10 月 15 日和 16 日暂停。

学校在家长门户网站上表示，课间休息时，自带食物的学生将在教室里用餐，而从食堂购买食物或预订餐食的学生将在用餐后返回教室。

新加坡西部地区下午3点的PM2.5一小时读数为288，下午4点为251。PM2.5小时读数超过250表明空气中细颗粒物浓度非常高。

在此空气污染水平下，国家环境局建议公众在接下来的一个小时内尽量减少户外活动。包括儿童、老年人、孕妇以及患有慢性肺病或心脏病的人士在内的弱势群体，则建议完全避免户外活动。

该城邦的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 预测值仍处于不健康范围内。

根据教育部网站的信息，学校应根据每小时的 PM2.5 读数调整其活动的强度和性质，而 PM2.5 读数会在一天中波动。

教育部长李智陞在10月10日的Facebook帖子中表示，课程和全国考试已在配备空气净化器的封闭场所继续进行，如有需要，学校已准备好加强措施。

李补充说，如果第二天的天气预报进入危险范围，24 小时 PSI 超过 300，教育部可能会考虑停课和推迟全国性考试。

他说：“任何停课决定都会在前一天晚上8点左右通过学校和教育部的官方渠道宣布。”

“我们将继续每天密切关注情况，并评估学校第二天是否应该继续开放或关闭。”

Vanessa Paige Chelvan是《海峡时报》的教育记者。她偶尔也会撰写一些关于育儿、工作和家庭生活的评论文章。

教育和学校