Secondary 3 to 5 students to resume classes next Wednesday

     All secondary schools are preparing a healthy and safe environment for Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 students to resume classes next Wednesday (May 27), including adjusting teaching arrangements and strengthening precautionary measures against COVID-19.
      
     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, this afternoon (May 22) visited Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College in Sai Ying Pun, where he was briefed by its Vice Supervisor, Mr Chan Kin-ping, and Principal, Mr Lo Man-piu, on the preparation work for the class resumption.
      
     Mr Yeung learned that the school, like others, has stepped up its cleanliness and disinfection. When classes resume, the school will operate on a half-day basis to avoid the risk of meal gatherings. All teachers and students, upon their arrival at school, must wear masks, sanitise their hands, have their body temperature checked and make a health declaration.  
      
     In the classroom, the school has made the best use of space to arrange students to sit in single rows in a "face-to-back" setting. Teachers will avoid group discussion activities so as to minimise close contacts among students. Students will also be required to maintain an appropriate social distance from one another during recess and when queuing for toilets and tuck shops.
      
     According to the planned schedule, classes of Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 will resume on May 27, Primary 4 to Secondary 2 on June 8, and Kindergarten 3 to Primary 3 on June 15.
      
     Mr Yeung said, "Since the announcement on class resumption was made in early May, there have been sporadic local confirmed cases in Hong Kong. But following a prudent assessment on the epidemic situation in consultation with medical experts, the Education Bureau (EDB) considers that the class resumption plan could proceed as scheduled."
      
     He stressed that the local epidemic situation could be volatile and that everyone must continue to stay vigilant. While appealing to members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, he pledged that the EDB would keep a close eye on the epidemic situation and would make timely announcements in case contingency measures are needed. He hoped that all school stakeholders and students could understand and cooperate with the EDB in due course.