Schools to stay open despite haze; O-level, A-level exams to proceed next week: Desmond Lee

The Singapore Flyer and surrounding buildings are shrouded in thick haze, seen from Chinatown at around 1.05pm on Oct 14, 2026.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Published Oct 16, 2026, 05:32 PM

Updated Oct 16, 2026, 05:32 PM

SINGAPORE — Schools will remain open and national examinations will proceed as scheduled next week despite the worsening haze, with students sitting for their O- and A-Level exams in enclosed, air-conditioned venues with air purifiers.

Education Minister Desmond Lee said on Oct 16 that the ministry wants to minimise disruption for students, who have been working hard to prepare for their national exams.

Speaking at the haze task force’s press conference on Oct 16, Lee said MOE will consider rescheduling O-level papers in line with the health advisory for younger students, should the 24-hour forecast reach hazardous levels, which is when the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) exceeds 300.

The A-level papers are generally less likely to be affected, he said, as the students are older. But the ministry will also take into account actual circumstances in deciding whether examinations should proceed, he said.

Written papers for O-levels and practical A-level exams start on Oct 19.

Should students feel unwell and are unable to take or continue with an exam, they should see a doctor, get a medical certificate, and apply for special consideration through their schools, Lee said. Schools will guide these students on the necessary procedure.

Any affected papers will be rescheduled to the earliest practicable date, with the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) announcing the changes publicly, he added.

Schools will inform students and parents directly if any national exam needs to be rescheduled, he said.

Lee cautioned against misinformation about school closures circulating on social media.

“There have been instances where fake news about school closures were put out on social media, causing confusion and anxiety,” he said, urging parents, students and the public to refer to MOE’s official channels and Parents Gateway for updates.

More information about any changes in the scheduling of O- and A-level examinations will be available on the SEAB website, he added.

The main written papers for the GCE O-Level examinations are scheduled to begin on Oct 19 and run until Nov 10. The GCE A-Level examinations are ongoing, with H2 Physics and Biology practical examinations scheduled for Oct 19 and 22 respectively, ahead of the main written papers starting on Nov 2 with General Paper.

All papers for this year’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) concluded on Sept 30.

On Oct 16, Lee also outlined measures to keep schools operating amid worsening air quality, including adjustments to outdoor activities, the deployment of air purifiers and additional precautions for students with pre-existing health conditions.

For younger students, MOE will consider closing schools and moving to home-based learning from pre-school to secondary school levels if the 24-hour PSI forecast for the following day reaches the hazardous range of 301 and above, he said.

Lee said parents and guardians will also be strongly encouraged to keep infants and young children at home in such a scenario, given their greater vulnerability to the health effects of haze.

Kindergarten programmes and early intervention services for children with developmental needs will also be suspended under such circumstances, he said.

These include the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC and EIPIC-P) services, and preschool-based early intervention programmes, such as the Development Support-Plus programme and Development Support-Learning Support programme.

Lee acknowledged that this can be challenging for parents who cannot work from home or find alternative care for their children.

Therefore, MOE Kindergartens and Kindergarten Care as well as pre-schools licensed under the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will remain physically open, he noted.

Children who report to these facilities will be able to participate in indoor activities, such as reading and hands-on activities, with precautions such as the use of air purifiers in enclosed rooms, he added.

Lee also reassured that primary and secondary schools, student care centres and special student care centres will remain physically open to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements.

In-person lessons in junior colleges and other post-secondary institutions such as polytechnics and universities would likely continue as students are older, although adjustments may be made depending on actual circumstances, he said.

During the severe haze episode in September 2015, MOE closed all primary and secondary schools for a day on Sept 25 that year, when air quality was forecast to reach very unhealthy or potentially hazardous levels. An O-Level practical examination originally scheduled for that day was postponed to Sept 29.

The PSLE, however, proceeded as scheduled on Oct 1 that year, with candidates taking their papers in enclosed spaces equipped with air purifiers.

2026年10月14日下午1点05分左右，从牛车水望去，新加坡摩天观景轮和周围的建筑物笼罩在浓厚的雾霾中。

《海峡时报》摄影：KELVIN CHNG

发布于 2026 年 10 月 16 日下午 5:32

更新于2026年10月16日下午5:32

新加坡——尽管雾霾日益严重，学校仍将继续开放，下周的全国考试也将按计划进行。学生们将在配备空气净化器的封闭式空调考场参加O水准和A水准考试。

教育部长李智陞于10月16日表示，教育部希望尽量减少对正在努力备考全国统考的学生的干扰。

李在10月16日雾霾工作组的新闻发布会上表示，如果24小时预报达到危险级别（即24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）超过300），教育部将考虑根据对低年级学生的健康建议重新安排O水准考试。

他表示，A-level考试受影响的可能性通常较小，因为考生年龄较大。但他同时指出，教育部在决定考试是否进行时，也会考虑实际情况。

O水准笔试和A水准实践考试将于10月19日开始。

李老师表示，如果学生感到身体不适，无法参加或继续考试，应该去看医生，取得医疗证明，并通过学校申请特殊照顾。学校会指导这些学生完成必要的程序。

他补充说，所有受影响的试卷都将重新安排在最早可行的日期进行考试，新加坡考试与评估局（SEAB）将公开宣布这些变更。

他说，如果任何全国性考试需要重新安排时间，学校将直接通知学生和家长。

李提醒大家注意社交媒体上流传的有关学校停课的错误信息。

他说：“社交媒体上曾出现过有关学校停课的虚假新闻，造成混乱和焦虑。”他敦​​促家长、学生和公众参考教育部官方渠道和家长门户网站获取最新消息。

他还补充说，有关O水准和A水准考试时间安排的任何变更的更多信息，将在新加坡考试与评鉴局（SEAB）网站上公布。

普通中等教育证书（GCE）O水准考试的主要笔试科目定于10月19日开始，持续至11月10日。普通中等教育证书（GCE）A水准考试正在进行中，H2物理和生物的实践考试分别定于10月19日和22日举行，之后是11月2日开始的综合笔试。

今年小学离校考试（PSLE）的所有科目已于9月30日结束。

10 月 16 日，李还概述了在空气质量恶化的情况下保持学校正常运转的措施，包括调整户外活动、部署空气净化器以及对有既往健康状况的学生采取额外的预防措施。

他说，对于低年级学生，如果第二天的 24 小时 PSI 预报达到 301 及以上的危险范围，教育部将考虑关闭学校，从学前班到中学阶段实行居家学习。

李表示，鉴于婴幼儿更容易受到雾霾的健康影响，在这种情况下，也会强烈鼓励家长和监护人让婴幼儿待在家中。

他表示，在这种情况下，幼儿园课程和针对有发育障碍儿童的早期干预服务也将暂停。

其中包括婴幼儿早期干预计划（EIPIC 和 EIPIC-P）服务，以及学前早期干预计划，例如发展支持加强计划和发展支持学习支持计划。

李承认，对于无法在家工作或找不到其他方式照顾孩子的父母来说，这可能会是一个挑战。

因此，他指出，教育部幼儿园和幼儿园托儿所，以及幼儿培育署（ECDA）授权的学前班将继续保持实体开放。

他补充说，到这些设施报到的儿童将能够参加室内活动，例如阅读和动手活动，同时采取预防措施，例如在封闭的房间里使用空气净化器。

李还保证，小学和中学、学生托管中心和特殊学生托管中心将继续开放，为没有其他照料安排的学生提供照料。

他表示，随着学生年龄的增长，初级学院和其他高等院校（如理工学院和大学）的面授课程可能会继续进行，但可能会根据实际情况进行调整。

2015年9月严重雾霾期间，由于空气质量预报显示当日空气质量将达到非常不健康或潜在危险级别，教育部于当年9月25日关闭了所有中小学一天。原定于当日举行的O水准实践考试也延期至9月29日。

然而，当年的小学离校考试（PSLE）按计划于10月1日举行，考生在配备空气净化器的封闭空间内参加考试。