Hainan Sets Strict New Rules for School Closures/Reopening During Typhoons and Storms

The Hainan Provincial Department of Education, in cooperation with the Hainan Provincial Meteorological Bureau, has issued formal guidance for the suspension and resumption of classes during typhoons, heavy rain, and other extreme weather events.

The Guidance on School Operations During Extreme Weather is now the province-wide standard for kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, vocational institutions, universities, and extracurricular training centers.

This policy does not apply to national or provincial standardized examinations, which follow separate regulations.

Key Provisions for Student Safety

The document stresses that schools must not require or pressure parents to retrieve their children once they have arrived at school, unless the parent actively initiates the request. If students remain on campus during suspension periods, schools are responsible for assigning staff to supervise them and ensure basic care and safety.

During closures, no new lessons may be introduced, ensuring equal educational access for students who are unable to attend. Schools are also forbidden from recording absences or tardiness related to weather-related closures. The goal is to reduce stress for families and ensure fair access to education.

Parents are allowed to pick up their children after a closure signal has been issued, but schools must manage this process safely.

Closure and Reopening Criteria by Weather Alert

Typhoons

Because typhoons are prolonged and highly disruptive, local schools are to follow alerts issued by their local meteorological offices. The overarching principle is “Safety First, Life Above All.”

Typhoon Yellow Warning:

Only kindergartens suspend classes: If the alert is issued before 6:30 AM, kindergartens remain closed all day. If issued after 6:30 AM, schools must remain open until all children are safely picked up.

Typhoon Orange Warning:

All schools suspend classes: If the warning is issued before 6:30 AM, students should not attend school.

If issued between 6:30 and 8:00 AM, students already on the way to school should return home or shelter safely nearby.

Those already at school will remain under supervision.

Students unable to safely return home will shelter at school.

Typhoon Red Warning:

All schools close immediately, regardless of the time: Students already at school follow on-site safety arrangements.

Those en route must seek nearby shelter.

Students who have not yet left home must stay home.

Reopening can only occur after the relevant warning level has been lifted, and only if water, electricity, communication, and transportation services are fully restored. Local education authorities must promptly report reopening decisions to the provincial education safety office.

Heavy Rain

Due to the sudden and intense nature of rainstorms in Hainan, and the risk of secondary disasters, the province has implemented an automatic school suspension mechanism tied directly to rainstorm warning levels.

Rainstorm Orange Warning:

Schools must inform students and families immediately via messaging platforms, along with updates on geological hazards near the school. Attendance is flexible, and no penalties for absences or tardiness are allowed.

Rainstorm Red Warning:

Affected schools automatically suspend classes: Students already on campus follow school safety arrangements.

Students en route must find nearby shelter.

Students still at home should remain there. Again, no attendance penalties are allowed.

Real-Time Communication and Interagency Response

To ensure timely and effective responses, the Guidance outlines a multi-tiered coordination system:

SMS Alerts: Meteorological departments send instant alerts to responsible school staff.

Call-and-Respond System: When orange or red warnings for typhoons or rainstorms are issued, education administrators are contacted directly by phone, triggering emergency response procedures.

Additionally, schools are required to coordinate closely with local agencies including emergency services, police, transport authorities, and geological survey departments. A dynamic hazard mapping system ensures that schools are aware of the latest risk zones, which are updated annually.

These comprehensive guidelines aim to reinforce Hainan’s commitment to protecting students during extreme weather while maintaining educational fairness and minimizing disruption.