Follow-Up: Singapore O-Level Exams Begin on Schedule Monday Amid Haze, with Contingency Measures in Place
Singapore's national O-Level examinations began on schedule on Monday, Oct. 19, even as transboundary haze from Indonesian forest fires continued to blanket the city-state. The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board said the exams would proceed as planned, with contingency measures in place including indoor venues, ventilation and air-purifying equipment, close monitoring of the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), and adjustments if conditions require. The National Environment Agency's data showed the PSI staying in the unhealthy range; the Straits Times counted 13 consecutive days of unhealthy air from Oct. 5 to 17, the longest haze episode since 2015. The NEA has issued preventive-measures notices to seven Indonesian companies linked to hotspots. GSM reported on Sunday that the PSI was unhealthy island-wide. Weather forecasters expect monsoon rain in the coming days may help ease the haze. Education authorities urged candidates and parents to watch official announcements, saying schools and students will be notified immediately if air quality deteriorates markedly. (GSM, compiled from CNA and Straits Times reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：新加坡滨海湾黄昏（资料图）。Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，取自维基共享资源。Photo: Marina Bay, Singapore, at dusk (file photo). By Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
