Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung needs to get Hong Kong schools back open. Governments around the world are making it a key priority, but that does not seem to be the case in Hong Kong. Children here have already missed months of school, yet once again they find themselves stuck at home and parents have no idea for how long. There is talk about opening restaurants for dinner, fitness centres and beauty parlours as Covid-19 cases come down, but no news on when schools will reopen. Studies around the world have shown it is safe for children to attend school if social distancing measures like the ones seen in June are in place. Don’t forget abuse risk as Covid-19 shuts kids at home The long-term effect of school closures on our children could be devastating, with domestic violence, obesity and mental health issues all on the rise due to the amount of time spent at home. John Pimlott, Wan Chai Where is the policy guidance on resuming classes? I’m writing to raise the issue that the reopening of schools does not seem to be a priority for the Hong Kong government at all. In sharp contrast to other governments around the world, the Hong Kong government has made no mention of schools at recent press conferences and there is no policy or guidance on reopening schools. Covid-19 may be here to stay for up to two years – do children stay out of physical schools over this whole period? With safety being paramount, am I the only one to be shocked that cinemas will be among the first establishments to reopen from Friday? Hong Kong must find a way to get the kids back in school International schools, in particular, have been considering innovative teaching arrangements that are likely to be as safe as – if not safer than – cinemas: e.g., with staggered classes, workstream bubbles, outdoor classrooms. I urge the media to put this question to the government in light of the neglect of our children’s mental and social well-being. Jane Ho, Stanley