The Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) announced in a statement yesterday that around 80 percent of Macau’s kindergartens and primary and secondary schools will begin the new academic year on Monday, September 1.
The statement said that it, together with the Transport Bureau (DSAT) and the Public Security Police (PSP), co-hosted yesterday a meeting with the city’s two public bus company Transmac (新福利) and TCM (澳巴), aiming to ensure the safety and smooth transportation of teachers, students, and parents.
According to the statement, the Transport Bureau has arranged cooperation mechanisms with the two bus companies and the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) operator to increase service frequency during peak hours, adding that Transmac, TCM and LRT will enhance their rush-hour schedules by around 10 to 15 percent. The Transport Bureau said that it is also cooperating with the Public Security Police to arrange standby towing services for buses, ensuring a quick response to any unexpected road incidents.
Meanwhile, the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) announced in a separate statement yesterday that in order to proactively implement preventive measures against dengue fever and chikungunya, it invited representatives from the Health Bureau (SSM) to conduct two lectures early last week, which was attended by 90 school staff members.
The lectures, which took place last Monday and Tuesday, according to the statement, aimed to enhance schools’ understanding of both dengue fever and chikungunya, enabling them to proactively plan and efficiently implement schoolyard cleaning and preventive measures before the new academic term begins, thereby reducing the risk of mosquito-borne transmission.
Following the lectures, the statement said, the participating schools have progressively initiated various preventive and mosquito control actions, aiming to thoroughly eliminate mosquito breeding sources in their schoolyards prior to the start of the academic year.
Some parents told the Post yesterday that they have already bought school supplies for their children, such as satchels, textbooks, stationery, and uniforms. Regarding the prevention of dengue fever and chikungunya, parents also said that they would equip their children with mosquito repellent spray, anti-mosquito patches, and other protective items. As for transportation, some parents said that on Monday, the first “back-to-school” day, they would leave home 15 to 30 minutes earlier, while others noted that their children’s school is within walking distance from their home.
Parents buy school uniforms for their kids before the new academic year, which for most students starts on Monday, in a shop on Rua dos Mercadores yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
