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Coronavirus pandemic: All stories
Hong KongEducation

Hong Kong third wave: face-to-face teaching ban extended at schools but lessons can be held online

  • Schools returning from the summer break in coming weeks can resume classes as long as they are held over the internet
  • Education minister Kevin Yeung says all face-to-face classes and activities on school grounds are suspended until further notice

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There will be no return to school grounds for pupils on August 17 when the summer holidays end for some, the government has revealed. Photo: Dickson Lee
Chan Ho-him
The ban on face-to-face teaching at Hong Kong schools has been extended indefinitely beyond August 17, although online lessons can return for the start of the academic year, the education minister revealed on Monday as the city continues its fight against the third wave of Covid-19.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung also said that teaching in schools was likely to return in phases once it was deemed safe following the government’s close monitoring of the pandemic’s development.

Many international schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong usually start their school year as early as August, while most local primary and secondary schools return in September.

“Schools may begin their new school year as planned … but all face-to-face classes and on-campus activities will be suspended until further notice. Schools may adopt online teaching instead,” Yeung told a press conference.

“For younger pupils such as those in kindergartens, instead of e-learning, they may complete worksheets or read some books – which may be more effective [for their learning] and will be able to protect them from eye strain.”

Yeung said the same arrangements would apply to private tutorial centres in the city, adding that the Education Bureau would continue to discuss the reopening of schools with representatives from the sector, while also seeking advice from health experts.

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