The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (May 21) visited Pui Tak Canossian College in Aberdeen to learn about its anti-epidemic work.
Taking into account the latest developments of the epidemic, advice of health experts and preparedness of schools, the Education Bureau announced earlier that all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering a non-local curriculum) as well as private schools offering a non-formal curriculum (commonly known as "tutorial schools") would fully resume half-day face-to-face classes from next Monday (May 24).
During the visit, Mr Yeung was briefed by the Principal, Ms Wong Siu-ling, on the school's anti-epidemic work. He also inspected the related measures being put in place on the campus, including body temperature checks, seating arrangements in classrooms, and lesson arrangements and operations in relation to the epidemic.
Meanwhile, the Principal and teachers updated him on the latest developments of civic education in the school. He met and exchanged views with the winning students of the Outstanding Student Citizen Award and the Hong Kong Island Outstanding Student Award as well as teachers admitted to the InnoPower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers. The students and teachers also shared their thoughts about joining and promoting civic education activities.
Mr Yeung called on all students in Hong Kong to treasure the opportunities of on-campus schooling and interactive learning with classmates, and adapt to the changes and adjust their daily lives gradually with positive and proactive attitudes. Parents and schools should also enhance home-school co-operation to care about the physical and mental health of students and offer support to them.
As the epidemic situation may remain unstable, he reiterated that should there be any confirmed case of COVID-19 or outbreak of upper respiratory tract infections in individual schools, the schools concerned still have to suspend classes temporarily and carry out thorough cleaning in accordance with health advice. Teaching staff and students will also be required to undergo compulsory testing for the sake of safety.
The Government has earlier expanded the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and the minimum age for receiving a vaccine is 16. So far more than 2 million doses of vaccine have been administered. Mr Yeung encouraged eligible persons (including teaching staff and students) to get vaccinated as early as possible to protect themselves and others, so as to achieve herd immunity to enhance the safety of the community, families and schools.
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