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Haze 2026: Will Schools Close? MOE's Plan Explained for Parents

Writer: Overmugged Primary
Overmugged Primary
3 hours ago
4 min read

Short answer: MOE said on 16 October 2026 that schools stay open during the haze, with lessons kept indoors and air purifiers running. It will consider closing schools and moving to home-based learning only if NEA's next-day 24-hour PSI forecast is 300 or above. Any O-Level paper changes would be announced by SEAB. (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026)

What did MOE announce?

At a haze press conference on 16 October 2026, Education Minister Desmond Lee set out how schools will respond as air quality changes. Two readings drive the decisions (Source: MOE, Minister's remarks at haze press conference, 16 Oct 2026):

  • The evening before: NEA's 24-hour PSI forecast for the next day decides whether schools and preschools operate the next day.

  • During the school day: schools watch the 1-hour PM2.5 reading and adjust activities on the ground.

MOE also asked parents to “refer only to updates from MOE's official channels and Parents Gateway”, as false messages about school closures have circulated on social media (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

What will schools do at each haze level?

Based on the 1-hour PM2.5 reading during school hours (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026):

  • Elevated (56–150): no prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. Non-strenuous indoor activities continue. Students who are unwell or have heart, lung or other pre-existing conditions are excused. Air purifiers are used in classrooms, labs, school halls and indoor sports halls.

  • High (151–250): students stay in enclosed indoor spaces with air purifiers on, avoid outdoor and strenuous indoor activity, and eat indoors. School hours stay the same. Outdoor CCAs and camps move indoors where possible, or are cancelled or postponed.

  • Very high (251 and above): lessons are scaled down, indoor activities are made less intense, and all physical and after-school activities are suspended.

Who does this affect?

Primary and Secondary: if the next-day PSI forecast is 300 or above, MOE will consider closing schools and moving to home-based learning for students from preschool up to secondary school. Even then, primary and secondary schools and student care centres in schools will remain physically open for students who have no other care arrangements (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

JC and Millennia Institute: junior colleges (including the JC years of Integrated Programme schools) and Millennia Institute will generally continue in-person lessons, with forecasts and conditions on the ground still taken into account (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

O-Level and A-Level candidates: papers are being taken in enclosed, air-conditioned venues with air purifiers. If the PSI forecast reaches hazardous levels, MOE will consider rescheduling O-Level papers. A-Level papers are generally less likely to be affected. Any rescheduling will be announced publicly by SEAB, and schools will also tell students and parents directly (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

Where is the haze now?

On 20 October 2026, NEA forecast a 24-hour PSI of 110–180 (Unhealthy) for 21 October, and said smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan may continue to be blown towards Singapore (Source: NEA haze update, 20 Oct 2026). That is below the PSI 300 level at which MOE would consider closing schools. Conditions change daily, so check the latest readings at haze.gov.sg.

What should parents do now?

  • Make sure your child always has their usual medication, such as an asthma inhaler, or arrange to care for them at home if needed (Source: MOE haze management measures, updated 16 Oct 2026).

  • Take your child to see a doctor if they feel unwell (Source: MOE haze management measures, updated 16 Oct 2026).

  • For outdoor plans outside school, MOH advises children to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion when the PSI is 101–200, minimise outdoor activity at 201–300, and avoid outdoor activity above 300 (Source: MOH haze advisory, updated 21 Oct 2026).

  • If your child is sitting a national exam and feels unwell, see a doctor, get a medical certificate and apply for special consideration through the school (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

  • Check Parents Gateway and MOE's official channels each evening for any change to the next day's arrangements, and the SEAB website for exam updates (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

  • Have a back-up care plan in mind in case schools move to home-based learning, while knowing that schools and student care will stay open for children who need them (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Will schools close because of the haze?

Not automatically. MOE said it will consider closing schools and moving to home-based learning when NEA's 24-hour PSI forecast for the next day is 300 or above. Below that level, schools stay open with indoor measures in place. (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026)

Can my child still go to school or student care if schools close?

Yes, if you have no other care arrangements. MOE said primary and secondary schools, and student care centres in schools, will remain physically open to look after these students. (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026)

What happens if O-Level papers are affected?

If the PSI forecast reaches hazardous levels, MOE will consider rescheduling O-Level papers. SEAB will publicly announce any new dates, and schools will inform students and parents directly. A-Level papers are generally less likely to be affected. (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026)

My child felt unwell during a national exam. What should we do?

MOE advises candidates who are unwell to see a doctor, get a medical certificate, and apply for special consideration through their school. (Source: MOE remarks, 16 Oct 2026)

Sources

Last verified: 22 October 2026

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