A spokesperson for the Ministry for Education informed the newsroom that the petition launched by the residents was replied to, and that “all complaints were also given due consideration, resulting in various measures that were taken by the school authorities to address the situation.”

In the reply to the petition, the Ministry let the Iklin residents know that the school is still “considering various solutions since this petition shows” that a balance between the school administration needs and the community “has not yet been reached”.

While apologising “for any inconvenience caused”, the reply detailed the “various measures” undertaken by the school “to address the noise pollution,” such as “replacing the traditional school bell with soothing classical music which is particularly beneficial for students with autism spectrum disorders and sensory sensitivities.”

The Ministry also noted that the student population is close to 900, “and even with a reduced volume, some students may miss important announcements, leasing to further inconvenience.”

“Most speakers have been redirected towards the ground” and “some speakers have also been muted completely,” it continued. 

“Contrary to some claims,” the reply continued, “the master volume has indeed been lowered by 20 percent.”

The reply went on to say that on windy days, “the sound may still carry further and appear louder than intended.”

While promising the resident its commitment to finding a more suitable solution to the problem, the Ministry added that at present, its “options remain limited”.

The ministry spokesperson informed the newsroom that the music played by the school “is not continuous during school hours but is played for a very short duration,” while also claiming that video recently published on social media was filmed “before remedies were introduced by the school”.

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