China's Ministry of Education on Monday allowed middle and
primary schools as well as kindergartens affected by bad weather to
adjust their winter holiday times to ensure the safety of teachers
and students.
Weather satellite surveillance shows that heavy fog and snow
will continue to blanket middle and eastern China in coming
days.
The notice on the ministry's website said educational
departments nationwide should take all measures to minimize the
influence of bad weather on students. They should join with other
government departments to improve early-warning systems and prevent
traffic risks on icy roads.
Middle and primary schools should urge students who walk to
school to obey traffic rules and beware of vehicles and should
check that school buses are not overloaded.
The heavy snow has been blamed for the deaths of four people in
central China's Hubei and Anhui Province.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)