School holiday extended.

Salam, good day. As reported by RTB news, the school holiday is extended for another week, Alhamdulillah. What worries me the most I my daughter, what would happen if the school were to re-open on scheduled? It really worries other parents too. This is a very good step of awareness in order to overcome the recent outbreak of Influenza A H1N1. Allah bless:)

More pictures from the recent Consumer Fair. Posing for bruneidaily. Syamir Serbini (standing) with the colleagues of his. I didn't get the ladies names though. But the ladies seems very friendly, thank you very much indeed.

The 4th CF also features Thailand Grand Fair *good effort*

They bring along Rambutan



As well as Durian *a must*



Decorating the umbrella *neatly done*

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei extended school holidays for a further week as 209 people came under watch for swine flu in the sultanate while the Health Ministry announced four more confirmed cases yesterday bringing the total to 29.

Schools that were to reopen after mid term holidays on Monday will only start on July 6. Students have been asked not to travel outside the country.

The Health Ministry of Health advised those who have recently returned from overseas to voluntarily reduce social activities and interactions for seven days. The public are also advised to monitor their health and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms.

Precautionary steps by practicing good personal hygiene should be maintained at all times, the ministry urged.

The public may contact healthline 145 during office hours and 8220991 outside working hours for information, the ministry added.

The Ministry of Education in a press statement on Sunday declared that all students in every private and public school nationwide including Jerudong International School and International School Brunei are not to attend classes from today (June 29) until Saturday July 4, 2009.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs too issued a statement advising students in all religious schools not to attend classes for a week commencing today.

The move came in light of the rising number of H1N1 cases in Brunei Darussalam, most of the victims of which have contracted the disease while travelling overseas.

With students scheduled to return to schools today after school break, there is enhanced concern of an outbreak among the student population. It is too great a risk especially with children who have returned from countries that are affected with H1N1.

The Ministry of Education has decided on precautionary course of action based on the advice of Ministry of Health.

Schools will recommence on July 6, 2009.

During this week students are required to stay at home and not travel outside the country as well, in order to reduce their social activities.

Teachers and staff of each respective school are still required to go to school as normal from today (June 29) to prepare for schoolwork before schools reopen on July 6, 2009.

The Ministry of Education also advised scholarship students who return to Brunei for holidays to reduce their social activities for a period of two weeks after arriving in the country.

The Ministry of Education would like to remind schools to continuously monitor and prevent H1N1 1 from spreading by taking precautionary measures.

These steps include class teachers conducting temperature checks on all students every day before classes, and advising parents and guardians not to send their children to schools if they have symptoms of fever or flu.

Schools have to adhere to cleanliness in their respective surrounding and ensure that everyone practises personal hygiene as well as to wash hands with hand sanitisers before entering classrooms, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs also issued a statement for students in religious schools.

Following advice from the Ministry of Health and also as precautionary measures, students from the schools under the Ministry which include religious schools, Arabic school and the Institut Tahfiz Al -Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah are not required to attend classes from today (Monday, June 29) until Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Students therefore will resume their classes from Monday July 6, 2009. Students however are reminded that they are not allowed to go abroad and at the same time to reduce any social interaction, the statement added.

Teachers and school staff meanwhile are required to resume their work on Monday, June 29, 2009 to make preparations before the schools reopen on July 6.

As further precautionary measures, the Ministry of Religious Affairs together with the schools under their control will continue to monitor and prevent the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) especially when the schools reopen in a week time.

These steps include ensuring that teachers every day check the temperature of all the students before classes commence and advising parents not to send their children to school should they show high fever and flu symptoms.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs also would like to remind all their scholarship students who have just returned to reduce any social activities for a week after arriving in the country, the press release added.