Coronavirus: Hong Kong secondary schools should reopen first, say teachers, as younger pupils face prospect of Covid-19 shutdown until May
- Unions and principals want older pupils to return first in staggered reopening of schools from April 20 at the earliest
- Half-days proposed for primary schools when lessons finally resume, which could be in May
Schools in Hong Kong should reopen in stages when the coronavirus shutdown ends, with senior secondary pupils returning first in late April and some younger children staying at home until May, according to teachers and principals.
Older students would be prioritised for the return of secondary schools ahead of the reopening of primary schools, which could consider opening in the mornings only to reduce the contagion risk, under proposals from the biggest teachers’ unions and head teacher associations in the city.
The Education Bureau last month extended the suspension of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools – in force since the end of Lunar New Year on February 3 – until after the Easter holidays or April 20 at the earliest.
The proposals came as Macau’s education authorities announced on Tuesday that most schools were likely to reopen before April 20 because the Covid-19 outbreak had stabilised there.
Those kindergarten, primary and secondary school principals who spoke to the Post said the Hong Kong education sector was in favour of senior pupils in secondary schools returning first in a staggered approach.
Two sources revealed the government would meet with primary and secondary school principals on Monday to discuss the arrangements.
The Education Bureau’s principal education officer Cynthia Chan Chin-woon told lawmakers on Tuesday that classes could resume in phases in April at the earliest, adding the bureau would consider the opinion of health experts and the availability of surgical masks before making a decision.
“We will also discuss with the education sector arrangements for class resumption,” said Chan. “Some schools have been doing preparations, including ordering masks from various channels such as from other countries outside Asia.”