Set up health units in schools orders Wee

The Education Ministry has issued a new directive to schools ordering them to set up health units immediately to combat the spreading influenza A(H1N1).

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong told reporters in Parliament today that each school will have to set up one health unit which will be headed by the school's headmaster.

The units will be tasked to monitor the health status of teachers and students.

"The district education department will also have to form a committee to monitor the units in the schools," he added.

At the same time, he added that all school-related programmes where students are required to travel overseas have been cancelled for the time being.

He also said the four schools that have been closed will be reopened at the scheduled date, with all teachers and students having to undergo health screening.