China's Ministry of Education on Monday allowed middle and primary schools as well as kindergartens affected by bad weather to adjust their winter holiday times to ensure the safety of teachers and students.

Weather satellite surveillance shows that heavy fog and snow will continue to blanket middle and eastern China in coming days.

The notice on the ministry's website said educational departments nationwide should take all measures to minimize the influence of bad weather on students. They should join with other government departments to improve early-warning systems and prevent traffic risks on icy roads.

Middle and primary schools should urge students who walk to school to obey traffic rules and beware of vehicles and should check that school buses are not overloaded.

The heavy snow has been blamed for the deaths of four people in central China's Hubei and Anhui Province.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)