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
本局檔號 Our Ref : EDB(SDCT)3/PRO/10/1/1 電話 Telephone :
來函檔號 Your Ref. : 傳真 Fax Line :
11 April 2022
To : Supervisors / Principals of all Secondary Schools, Primary Schools, Special Schools, and Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-child care centres, Private Schools offering Non-Formal Curriculum
Dear Supervisor / Principal,
Arrangements of Resumption of Face-to-Face Classes after Schools’ Easter Holidays
This letter informs secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres (collectively referred to as ‘KGs’) and private schools offering non-formal curriculum (PSNFCs) (commonly known as “tutorial schools”) in Hong Kong of the resumption of face-to-face class arrangements after the Easter Holidays.
Resumption of Face-to-face Class Arrangements
All schools in Hong Kong will resume half-day face-to-face classes in an orderly and phased manner after the Easter holidays as originally planned in accordance with the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic situation. Details are as follows:
Secondary Schools
Secondary schools, after the completion of the core subjects of the 2022 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), may resume face-to-face classes starting from 3 May 2022 by phases, and schools may decide the phases of resumption in accordance with their school-based circumstances, for example, with Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 levels resuming face-to-face classes first or with all levels of the school resuming face-to-face classes immediately. Nevertheless, schools must resume face-to-face classes for the whole school by 10 May 2022 the latest. Schools will continue to arrange online classes for class levels that have yet to resume face-to-face classes.
During the period of core subject examinations of the 2022 HKDSE, if individual secondary schools can still deploy manpower in addition to handling work related to the 2022 HKDSE, they can consider conducting online lessons.
Primary Schools
Primary schools, after the schools’ Easter Holidays, may resume half-day face-to-face classes by phases starting from 19 April 2022 the earliest. Same as secondary schools, schools can also decide the phases of resumption, or whether all levels should resume face-to- face classes immediately, in accordance with their school-based circumstances. We understand that primary school students are young, and schools need to be well-prepared before arranging more students to return to school. To ensure that students are fully taken care of and can adapt to the environment, an example of resumption is to have half of the school or upper class levels resuming face-to face classes first. Nevertheless, schools must resume face-to-face classes for the whole school by 3 May 2022 the latest. Schools will continue to arrange online classes for class levels that have yet to resume face-to-face classes.
Kindergartens
KG students are young and generally need more time to adjust to campus life after the long holidays. To ensure that schools can fully take care of their students, face-to-face classes will be resumed by phases :
Date Class Levels that can Resuming Face-to- face Classes
3 May One level or one-third of enrolled students 10 May Two levels or two-thirds of
enrolled students
16 May Whole-school
For the class levels yet to resume face-to-face classes, KGs will continue to support students’ learning at home through diverse modes.
Other details concerning resumption of face-to-face classes are as follows:
(i) for secondary schools, schools can arrange for students to attend face-to-face classes or take examinations either in the morning or in the afternoon for no more than half a day, and schools should not arrange students of the same class level to attend face-to-face classes or take examinations for an entire day. In other words, students attending morning and afternoon sessions must be of different class levels;
(ii) for primary schools, schools can arrange for all students to attend face-to-face classes or take examinations in the morning only for no more than half a day.
Schools should not arrange learning or other activities for students of any level for the rest of the day;
(iii) for KGs, those operating morning sessions or afternoon sessions can arrange for students to return to school for half-day lessons in the morning or in the afternoon respectively. KGs operating whole-day sessions can arrange for students to attend face-to-face classes either in the morning or in the afternoon for no more than a half day. KGs should not arrange learning or other activities for the same batch of students for the rest of the day;
(iv) special schools should, in principle, make reference to the arrangements of ordinary schools. Taking into account the circumstances of schools and the needs of students, flexibility will be allowed in class resumption arrangements.
We will inform such schools separately; and
(v) PSNFCs can arrange students to return to schools from 19 April 2022 the earliest to attend face-to-face classes for no more than half a day each day.
Arrangements for Whole-Day Face-to-Face Classes
Secondary school students are older and the vaccination rate of the 12 to 19 year-old group is also higher. These factors create a more favourable environment for schools to arrange more learning time for their students. The Education Bureau (EDB) will, taking into account the actual circumstances of schools, allow them to resume whole-day face-to-face classes if schools meet the following vaccination requirements:
(i) all teachers and school staff directly employed by schools (including teaching and non-teaching staff) have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days; and
(ii) 90% or more of the total number of students of the school eligible to receive vaccination have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days.
Students who are unfit for the vaccination with medical proofs, students who havepreviously been infected with COVID-19 which render them unable to be vaccinated1, those who are not in Hong Kong, and Secondary 6 students will not be counted towards the total number of student population eligible to receive vaccination.
1 In general, persons who have been infected with COVID-19 will need one less dose than others who have not been infected before. If a student has never been vaccinated before infection, within the one month period after recovery, s/he will not be counted in the total number of students eligible to received vaccination in a school. A person who has received one dose of vaccine before his/her infection, after recovery, will be considered to have completed two doses of vaccine.
If the number of students in the whole of a school has not yet reached the vaccination rate for whole-day face-to-face classes, but the number of such students in an individual class level has reached the above requirements, we can also allow the school concerned to arrange whole- day face-to-face classes and other activities for students for that individual class level.
For a school having fulfilled the above requirements and would like to arrange the whole school or students of an individual class level for whole-day face-to-face classes, after obtaining the endorsement of the Incorporated Management Committee /School Management Committee, the school should duly complete Annex 1 and notify the respective school development section of the EDB of the class resumption arrangements for the whole- school/individual class level(s) at least four working days before the target commencement date. The EDB will, in general, issue the reply slip within two working days. The school should inform parents, students and related stakeholders of its plan as early as possible. The school should maintain the vaccination record of teachers and school staff properly.
The abovementioned whole-day class arrangements are not applicable to PSNFCs. As for students of KGs and primary schools, they are young and have comparatively lower self- care abilities. The overall vaccination rate for the 3-11-year-old group is currently not high.
Therefore, whole-day face-to-face classes in primary schools and KGs are not allowed for the time being.
Flexibilities for Vaccinated Students
Since students who are vaccinated will have a more effective protective barrier, they will be allowed to participate in more non-academic extra-curricular activities outside classes.
Regarding individual students who have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days, schools may arrange these students to stay at school after lessons for non-academic extra-curricular activities (e.g. music, sports activities, school team training). These students may also participate in some mask off activities (e.g. playing woodwind instruments, “contact”
sports such as football and basketball, etc.) at school (including both in-class and after-class activities).
The above arrangements are applicable to both secondary and primary school students who have received the second dose of vaccination for more than 14 days. KG students have lower self-care abilities. Even if they are vaccinated, they are not suitable for mask-off activities. Moreover, they generally need to take a nap and can go home to rest after school.
Unless there is no one to take care of them at home, it is not appropriate for them to stay at school for the other half day for other activities.
Undergoing Regular Rapid-Antigen Tests (RATs)
Every teacher, school staff and student has to complete a RAT2 each day before returning to school. RATs should be conducted in the morning and only persons obtaining negative
2 For those recovered from COVID-19, they are not required to be tested within three months from the date of the recovery (except for those with symptoms).
results are allowed to return to school for work/lessons. Students and staff tested positive should inform the schools of their positive results as soon as possible and stay at home. They should also report to the Department of Health as soon as possible within 24 hours via the
“Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test”
(https://www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/#).
Schools are required to collect from all teachers, school staff and students the test results of RAT each day in the morning in accordance with their school-based mechanism and to report positive cases (if any) through the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)’s dedicated website (https://www.idea.gov.hk/chp-cdb/SCHOOL) before 10:00 a.m. daily (2:00 p.m. daily for PM schools). Even if there is no case on that day, schools should also report to confirm. The EDB will distribute RAT test kit to needy students.
Parents of students are required to report the test results on time in accordance with the schools’ instructions before students’ returning to school. Schools may conduct spot-checks and ask the students concerned to re-test as appropriate. With prior consent of the parents, schools may assist students to conduct the tests at school (e.g. by giving a student a RAT test kit and ask the student to conduct the test by himself/herself, or having a school staff to assist the student to complete the test). If a test cannot be completed on time, the student concerned cannot attend lessons. The school should inform the parents concerned and arrange the student to go home as soon as possible.
Handling of Confirmed Cases and Close Contact Cases in Schools
Under the latest arrangements, the CHP will review the reports from schools. If 5% or more of the total number of teachers, school staff and students in a school or 10% or more of students in a particular class report new cases with positive result of COVID-19 (by RAT or other recognised tests) on the same school day (only new cases identified on a particular school day will be counted), the CHP will conduct epidemiology study and consider whether to take appropriate follow-up measures, including the need to suspend face-to-face classes, requirement of thorough disinfection, and enhancement of ventilation, having regard to the epidemic situation of the school concerned. Unless otherwise advised by the CHP, schools with sporadic cases could continue classes with proper anti-epidemic measures duly put in place.
In general, schools are not required to suspend classes when there are close contacts cases.
Close contacts are in general defined as household members of confirmed cases. With proper anti-epidemic measures duly put in place, teachers, school staff and students with previous contact with infected persons in the school context will not be regarded as close contacts in general.
The above updated arrangement could help safeguard the health of staff and students returning to schools, and facilitate the CHP to assess risk more precisely for monitoring and following- up on the infection situations in schools, thereby minimising the chance of frequent school closures as far as possible and enabling students to continue learning effectively at school without disruption. The Government will consider adjusting the relevant
arrangements after reviewing the development of the epidemic situation in the latter half of May.
Arrangements for “Vaccine Pass”
“Vaccine Pass” arrangements commenced in all schools on 24 February 2022, and are applicable to all teaching and non-teaching staff, persons providing on-campus services and visitors. The Government announced on 20 March 2022 updated vaccination arrangements for “Vaccine Pass” (including requirement to receive the third dose of vaccine). Schools should comply with the updated requirements and make necessary arrangements. For details, please refer to Annex 2. The related arrangements are also applicable to PSNFCs.
The above “Vaccine Pass” arrangements are not applicable to a school’s own students, children under 12 years old, parents/guardians accompanying their children to receive vaccination or receiving vaccination in person on school campus, and visitors participating in activities as students3.
Care for Students with Other Needs
At present, individual schools having boarding sections (especially special schools) continue to remain open during holidays to take care of the needs of the students; and even when schools have yet fully resumed face-to-face classes after the holidays, the school premises should remain open. In order to further protect the health and safety of teachers and school staff as well as students (especially boarders), the following individual groups of students must be vaccinated. The specific requirements are as follows -
(i) secondary schools: students who need to go back to school outside face-to-face class time should have received two doses of vaccine for more than 14 days;
(ii) primary schools and KGs : students who need to go back to school to be taken care of should have received one dose of vaccine (and have received one dose of vaccine for more than 14 days on 15 May 2022) and the second dose of vaccine in accordance with the relevant schedule4. KGs can provide meals for students who remain in school for care services, but they must observe strictly the “Health Protection Measures for Schools” and put in place adequate anti-epidemic measures to safeguard the health and safety of students; and
3 Visitors participating in activities as students include attending classes, admission interviews and inter-school competitions, but does not include using sports facilities on school campuses, attending interest classes, and visiting school in open days as general public.
4 Students received the first dose of vaccine should receive the second dose of vaccine within three months.
(iii) boarding sections: boarders residing in the boarding sections of schools (including special schools) under the EDB should have received one dose of vaccination for more than 14 days before 15 May 2022 and received the second dose of vaccine in accordance with the relevant schedule5.
Those who are unfit for the vaccination with medical proofs or have previously infected with COVID-19 which render them unable to be vaccinated will not be subject to the above restrictions.
Schools should properly register and maintain records of student vaccinations and the list of students who are medically certified to be unfit for vaccination, keep track of the latest announcements by the Government and the EDB, and inform all stakeholders (including all teachers, school staff, school bus operators, school tuck shop operators, parents, nannies and volunteers, etc.) of the latest arrangements in a timely manner.
Enhancement of Ventilation Facilities
The EDB has completed the ventilation inspections in aided schools and Government schools and has been following up on ventilation facility requirements and necessary enhancement measures. Besides, the EDB has announced the provision of one-off grants to KGs joining the kindergarten education scheme, as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and caput schools for conducting ventilation assessments and enhancing ventilation conditions on the school premises. The EDB urges schools to proactively take follow-up actions such as conducting improvement work or procurement of air purifiers etc.. The CHP has promulgated the “Supplement to Ventilation” for schools, and schools should refer to it and comply with the relevant guidelines. For details, please refer to the following webpage:
https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/supplement_on_school_ventilation_eng.pdf.
Health Protection Measures for Schools
Schools should continue to strictly put in place the various anti-epidemic measures 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 CHP, including having their personnel wearing masks all the time within school campuses, maintaining appropriate social distances, and measuring temperatures of teachers and students at school entrances, in order to safeguard the health of teachers and students. Schools should also always keep the school environment clean and hygienic. We will soon issue an updated version of the “Health Protection Measures for Schools” for school’s reference. We trust schools will conduct thorough cleansing and disinfection before class resumption in order to adequately prepare for resumption of face-to-face classes.
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 and can reduce the
5 Students received the first dose of vaccine should receive the second dose of vaccine within three months.
risk of severe cases and fatalities. We strongly urge schools to race against time to encourage and assist parents to arrange their children to receive vaccines, and make full use of the various measures offered by the Government to arrange vaccination for their students. If schools have any enquiries on the above arrangements or need any assistance regarding vaccination arrangements, please contact the respective Senior School Development Officers / Senior Services Officers.
Yours sincerely
(Dr Verena LAU) for Secretary for Education
Annex 1 Notice of Whole-Day Face-to-Face Classes
for Whole School / Individual Class Level(s)
To: District School Development Section [Fax no.： ] In accordance with the letter issued by the Education Bureau (EDB) on 11 April 2022, we certify that we have fulfilled the conditions for arrangements of whole-day face-to-face classes for the whole school / individual class level(s)( ‘’ as appropriate in the following box):
whole-day face-to-face classes for the whole school - (i) all teachers and school staff (including teaching and non-teaching staff) directly employed by the school having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for more than 14 days and (ii) the number of students having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for more than 14 days has reached 90% of the total number of students of the school eligible to receive vaccination.
whole-day face-to-face classes for individual class level(s) - (i) all teachers and school staff (including teaching and non-teaching staff) directly employed by the school having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for more than 14 days, and (ii) the number of students having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for more than 14 days has reached 90% of the total number of students of _________________ (please fill in the class level(s)) eligible to receive vaccination.
With the endorsement of our Incorporated Management Committee / School Management Committee, our school plans to initiate the above-mentioned arrangement from ____ (day) __________(month) 2022 on (_______) (day of the week). We will strictly observe the relevant health guidelines and put in place all necessary health protection measures to keep the school environment clean and hygienic. We have also been keeping parents and other stakeholders informed of the related arrangements.
School Name: School Chop
(if any) Name of Supervisor / Principal (in BLOCK letters):
Signature of Supervisor / Principal:
Date:
Fax No.:
=================== Reply Slip (For completion by the EDB) ===============
Whole-day face-to-face classes for whole school / individual class level(s)
Dear Supervisor / Principal,
This is to acknowledge that the EDB has received your notification about the arrangements of whole-day face-to-face classes for the whole school/ individual class level(s) on the above- mentioned date.
[ ]District School Development Section Name of School Development Officer (in BLOCK letters):
Signature of School Development Officer:
Date:
Annex 2 Vaccination Requirements under “Vaccine Pass”
(A) All teachers and school staff directly employed by schools On or before
24 February 2022
On or before 21 April 2022
From 31 May 2022 onwards First dose Second dose i. Second dose, if within 5
months from second dose;
ii. Third dose, if after 5 months from second dose
** Please note that the arrangement of “Vaccine Pass” for all teachers and school staff directly employed by the schools are different from those for other persons entering the school premises.
(B) For other persons entering the school premises, they should follow the Government’s latest arrangements for other premises. For details, please refer to the website https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/vaccine-pass.html. The version of 20 March is attached below for reference.
(Source: www.coronavirus.gov.hk)
