XN000022-1993-06-17 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1993

SCHOOLS ADVISED OF RAINSTORM ARRANGEMENTS

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IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONCERNING CERTAIN SCHOOLS WHICH WERE ALLEGED TO HAVE SENT CHILDREN HOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SUSPENDED ALL CLASSES YESTERDAY MORNING FOLLOWING THE RED RAINSTORM ALERT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID:

"SCHOOLS ARE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD DO

IN TUB EVENT OF A RAINSTORM. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ISSUED A GENERAL ADMINISTRATION CIRCULAR ON TROPICAL CYCLONES, HEAVY PERSISTENT RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ΤΟ ALL SCHOOLS LAST SEPTEMBER FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM.

SUDDENLY

THE CIRCULAR STIPULATED THAT IF THE WEATHER SITUATION DETERIORATES, IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ΤΟ ANNOUNCE THE SUSPENSION OF CLASSES.

IN SUCH AN EVENT, PUPILS SHOULD STAY HOME IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY SET OUT FOR SCHOOL, AND THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED AT SCHOOL SHOULD STAY THERE UNTIL THE SITUATION WARRANTS A SAFE JOURNEY HOME.

"BACH SCHOOL HAS BEEN ADVISED TO DRAW UP A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN ADVANCE TO COVER SUCH A SITUATION.

"THE PLAN SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL PREMISES WILL BE OPEN, THAT SOME TEACHERS LIVING CLOSE BY WILL BE AT SCHOOL TO LOOK AFTER THE PUPILS, AND THAT SAFE AND ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THEM TO RETURN HOME AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME," HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SCHOOLS HAD ALSO BEEN ADVISED THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS AT THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

"AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSURE WHILE SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ALL PUPILS MUST BE SENT HOME IMMEDIATELY.

DOES

IN

KEEP PUPILS SAFETY, THE

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"ALL HEADMASTERS, PRINCIPALS AND THEIR STAFF MUST IN SCHOOL UNTIL THEY CAN BE RELEASED TO RETURN HOME SPOKESMAN SAID.

COMMENTING ON ALLEGATIONS MADE BY SOME PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE SENT HOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLASSES WERE SUSPENDED YESTERDAY, THE SPOKESMAN URGED THESE PARENTS TO REPORT THE ΤΟ THE RELEVANT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DISTRICT OFFICE INVESTIGATIONS CAN BE CONDUCTED.

HE ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL RE-ISSUE THE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO REMIND SCHOOLS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS.

SO

INCIDENTS THAT

CIRCULAR

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