Impact of Rising Temperatures on Safety and Performance of Students Participating in Outdoor National School Games Events

45 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of rising temperatures on the safety and performance of students participating in outdoor National School Games events; and (b) whether the Ministry is considering adjustments to competition schedules, including the timing of matches, to reduce students' exposure to periods of high heat stress.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games.

Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised. Outdoor matches are scheduled during the cooler parts of the day as far as possible. During matches, water and rest breaks are provided, and teachers and coaches look out for signs of heat illness in student-athletes.

MOE has included additional precautionary measures for periods of hotter weather. These include additional or longer water and rest breaks, and delaying or postponing the game, should the area's heat stress level be indicated as "High" on the National Environment Authority's myENV app.