No pyjamas for online lessons, Hong Kong pupils on extended break amid coronavirus fears told
- English Schools Foundation spokeswoman says while they have not gone as far as demanding pupils log on in uniform, they should be ‘dressed appropriately’ for live-streamed lessons
- Other principals say focus is to keep students motivated and prepared for exams even with the lengthened break
Do not attend online lessons at home in your pyjamas, Hong Kong pupils taking an extended break because of the coronavirus crisis have been told.
While some local and international schools have not gone as far as to order students to don uniform while sitting in front of their computers, they have told them to dress properly for live-streamed lessons.
All 22 international schools operated by the English Schools Foundation (ESF), which has about 17,800 students in total, run live-streamed online lessons where pupils can be seen and heard by their teachers and classmates.
“We’ve not asked our students to be in uniform during this period of home learning, but we have made it clear to them that they should be up and ready for the start of the school day and dressed appropriately,” an ESF spokeswoman said.
“Our students are taking part in live, online lessons – where they can be seen and heard by their teachers and classmates. Much as we are sure that students would find it funny to see their friends in their pyjamas during class, being dressed properly really does matter.”
Samantha Carrington, of education consultancy Top Schools and mother of two girls studying at the ESF’s King George V School, said it was not necessary to be strict on uniforms.