PARENTS should keep their children at home if bad weather threatens their safety, the Education Department said yesterday.
Even if the school has not been closed, parents have the right to let their children skip a day if conditions could affect health or safety.
Though parents are keen that their children get a good education, students will not be punished if they are kept home, said the Deputy Director of Education, Mr Robert Lo Chun-hang.
''Last year we had cases of parents hesitating to use their discretion,'' he said.
''We are telling schools to inform parents that they can decide whether to send their children to school when the weather is bad.
''Parents should not be afraid to use their discretionary powers and schools must not penalise those students whose parents keep them at home.'' School principals are also to be reminded, in an Education Department circular to be released next week, that although only the Director of Education or his deputy can order the closure of a school, they may shut a school if they believe it necessary.
Emergency teams of department officials have been established to advise parents and principals during severe weather warnings.