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The spokesman said: "In case students are already on their way to school when No. 3/No. 8 or rainstorm warning signal red/black is issued, schools should arrange with teachers and staff to look after the students until it is safe for them to go home," the spokesman added.
He advised schools to draw up a contingency plan in advance to deal with the closure of schools or suspension of classes owing to rapidly deteriorating weather.
Schools should inform teachers, pupils and parents of all arrangements to be made in bad weather at the beginning of each school year, the spokesman said.
"However, in times of severe local weather affecting road conditions, landslides or unfavourable road traffic conditions, parents should use their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school.
"Principals of kindergartens and schools should also exercise their discretion to close their schools when local weather or road conditions may endanger students' safety on their way to and from schools," the spokesman said.
He advised schools to make alternative arrangements regarding internal tests or examinations for those pupils who could not return to school or were late for schools because of bad weather or adverse road conditions.
Schools should also reassure parents that their children would not be penalised under such circumstances, the spokesman said.
Whenever No. 3 or amber signal issued, the Education Department's Emergency Duty Team will be activated and operated from 5 am to 6 pm on a school day.
Last year, the Education Department Emergency Duty Team was activated 17 times when 14 rainstorm warnings and three tropical cyclone warnings were issued.
End/Monday, May 1, 1995
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