XN000022-1989-05-17 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CLOSING SCHOOLS BASED ON EXPERIENCE

* *

OF BAD

THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR CLOSING SCHOOLS BECAUSE WEATHER AND FOR PARENTS TO EXERCISE DISCRETION IN SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WHEN LOCAL WEATHER OR TRANSPORT CONDITIONS DIFFICULTIES, ARE BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND MAKE SENSE.

CAUSE

UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED CIRCULARS TOL SCHOOLS, AND THROUGH SCHOOLS TO PARENTS, TELLING THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WHEN THERE IS DANGER FROM BAD WEATHER.

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY! WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER POON IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 2 RAINSTORM.

MR BRIDGE STRESSED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD AND SYMPATHISED WITH MEMBERS CONCERN THAT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM DANGER ARISING FROM SUDDEN UNEXPECTED RAINSTORMS SUCH AS HAD OCCURRED THAT DAY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT UNDER PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WHENEVER THE WEATHER WAS UNSETTLED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE

AN OFFICER

ON DUTY ROUND-THE-CLOCK.

THE OFFICER KEPT IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE. IF THERE WERE GROUNDS FOR CLOSING SCHOOLS THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TOOK THE BEST DECISION HE COULD ON THE FACTS AVAILABLE.

"WHEN CONDITIONS JUSTIFY IT, AN ANNOUNCEMENT WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED IS MADE NO LATER THAN 6.15 AM FOR MORNING SESSION AND ALL-DAY SCHOOLS, AND NO LATER THAN 11 AM FOR THE AFTERNOON SESSION SO THAT PARENTS WILL KNOW THE POSITION BEFORE THEY ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO SET OFF FOR SCHOOL. HE SAID.

"

MR BRIDGE SAID PROBLEMS AROSE BECAUSE HEAVY RAIN WAS SOMETIMES EXTREMELY LOCALISED AND COULD NOT ALWAYS BE FORESEEN.

"THIS MEANS THAT IT MAY SOMETIMES BE NECESSARY FOR SCHOOL HEADS OR PARENTS TO USE THEIR OWN INITIATIVE TO TAKE WHATEVER SAFETY MEASURES LOCAL CONDITIONS MAY JUSTIFY," HE SAID.

TO HELP THEM, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ISSUED CIRCULARS TO ALL SHOULD SCHOOLS AND THROUGH SCHOOLS TO PARENTS, TELLING THEM WHAT THEY DO WHEN THERE WAS DANGER FROM BAD WEATHER.

"THE CIRCULARS EXPLAIN IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES SCHOOLS MAY BE CLOSED; STRESS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOL HEADS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR STUDENTS; AND COVER SITUATIONS WHERE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY FORCE SOME SCHOOLS TO CLOSE; EVEN THOUGH A GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO CLOSE ALL SCHOOLS IS NOT JUSTIFIED," MR BRIDGE SAID.

"THE CIRCULARS