Hong Kong education officials planning to transport cross-border students directly from checkpoints once classes resume
- Education Bureau and heads of various schools discuss preparatory plans on Tuesday as classes are set to resume gradually from May 27
- Some ideas being considered are opening more border checkpoints, frequent Covid-19 tests and direct transport to schools to avoid infection risks
Hong Kong education officials are planning to transport up to 27,000 cross-border students directly from various checkpoints to their schools, and make coronavirus tests mandatory when classes resume in phases by the end of this month.
The ideas were discussed at a meeting between the Education Bureau and heads of various schools on Tuesday as part of preparations for the resumption of face-to-face classes from May 27, after a four-month suspension.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung earlier said the governments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen had been working out arrangements for the students, but could not guarantee all issues would be fully resolved by the end of May.
Principal Leung Chi-man, chairman of the North District Primary School Heads Association, told the Post that education officials had been considering arranging transport for Hong Kong students who lived in mainland China to travel directly to their schools from the border checkpoints.
He said this would ensure the students did not need to take public transport and would reduce the risk of infection.
