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中 華 人 民 共 和 國 香 港 特 別 行 政 區 政 府 總 部 教 育 局 Education Bureau
Government Secretariat, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region The People's Republic of China
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27 January 2022
To: Supervisors / Principals of all Secondary Schools, Primary Schools, Special Schools, Schools offering Non-Local Curriculum, Kindergartens and Kindergarten- cum-Child Care Centres and Private Schools offering Non-Formal Curriculum
Dear Supervisor / Principal,
Extension of Suspension of Face-to-Face Class for All Schools after Chinese New Year Holidays
Since the epidemic situation is still severe, the Education Bureau (EDB) announces that all kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres (to be referred to as ‘KGs’ thereafter), primary schools and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering non-local curriculum) in Hong Kong will extend the suspension of face-to-face classes and all on-campus activities (including cancellation or postponement of examinations conducted within school premises and other on- campus activities, with the exception for the class levels of students sitting for the public examinations this year) until 21 February 2022 (i.e. schools should not resume face-to- face classes before 21 February 2022). Private schools offering non-formal curriculum (commonly known as “tutorial schools”) should also suspend face-to-face classes of all class levels until 21 February 2022.
During the suspension of face-to-face classes, all schools should make the following administrative arrangements:
(i) schools and boarding sections (applicable to special schools) should remain
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open to look after students who have to go back to schools because of the lack of carers at home (not applicable to private schools offering non-formal curriculum), and schools should maintain adequate social distances amongst students and ensure the environmental hygiene of the school campuses.
Schools should arrange staff to be on duty to handle school affairs and answer parents’ enquiries;
(ii) with stringent anti-epidemic measures put in place, schools can arrange secondary six students to return to schools for essential learning and assessment activities (for example, school based assessment and mock examinations, etc.) for no more than half a day. This arrangement also applies to the level of students of schools offering non-local curriculum and sitting for public examinations this year. For other class levels, schools should cancel or postpone the on-campus examinations and other activities held in school premises;
(iii) during the above learning and assessment activities, schools should ensure that indoor spaces are well ventilated, and open windows and doors as far as possible to increase the fresh air supply;
(iv) during the period of suspension of face-to-face classes, schools should flexibly deploy various teaching modes and provide respective support to sustain students’ learning at home. For details, see the following website (https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/applicable-to-
primary-secondary/it-in-edu/flipped.html);
(v) KGs should refrain children from prolonged use of digital screen gadgets.
They should also remind children to take appropriate rest for their eyes when using these gadgets. In principle, e-learning in the form of real-time online teaching is not suitable for KGs. That said, KGs can adopt other modes to facilitate children to continue learning at home and help them sustain their curiosity and motivation for learning;
(vi) schools should, in accordance with individual circumstances, activate the established school-based contingency plans (refer to EDBC No. 9/2015 for details), adopt contingency measures and make respective arrangements (including adjustments to activities inside and outside schools, school bus services, etc.) during suspension of face-to-face classes, and should keep close contact with the parents, etc.; and
(vii) if teachers, school staff or students are feeling unwell (even the symptoms are very mild), they must not return to school and should seek medical advice promptly so as to receive appropriate diagnoses and treatments.
Schools should remind parents to take epidemic preventive measures and pay close attention to the health conditions of their children. Students should avoid going
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to crowded places with poor ventilation. They should maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and take adequate rest in order to strengthen their immunity.
During the period of face-to-face class suspension, schools should continue to maintain communication with parents and students (for instance, schools can make phone calls to students as appropriate) to show care for the learning and emotional needs of the students and render appropriate assistance to parents. Schools should also keep the school campuses clean and hygienic all the time. Schools are required to continue to strictly observe the health measures as stipulated in the “Health Protection Measures for Schools” issued by the EDB and the “Health Advice to Schools for the Prevention of COVID-19” issued by the Centre for Health Protection.”
In view of the implementation of “Vaccine Pass” (previously known as “Vaccine Bubble”) arrangements at schools on 24 February 2022, we strongly urge unvaccinated teachers and school staff, persons providing on-campus services, parents and visitors to get vaccinated as soon as possible, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the school premises. Eligible students should also get vaccinated as early as possible to protect themselves and their family members, and construct a more effective protective barrier for both schools and the community. The EDB will closely monitor the situation, take into account the advice from the health experts, and review the related measures in a timely manner.
For enquiries, please contact the respective Senior School Development Officers / Senior Services Officers (Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres).
Yours sincerely,
(Dr Verena LAU) for Secretary for Education
