Teachers, principal stranded in Britain by Covid-19 travel ban as Hong Kong international schools reopen
- 14 teachers, head of Harrow International School unable to return after spending year-end holidays in Britain
- Education Bureau had advised teachers, students not to travel in December because of pandemic
Online classes resumed in Hong Kong schools this month, but a number of teachers remain stranded in Britain because of the Covid-19 travel ban, the Post has learned.
Nearly one in 10 teachers from Harrow International School, including its head, Ann Haydon, are still stuck in Britain. Belinda Greer, CEO of the city’s biggest international school group, English Schools Foundation (ESF), is also unable to return.
They are among hundreds of city residents left stranded after the Hong Kong government banned flights from Britain since December 22 to prevent the import of a more transmissible strain of the coronavirus.
Those eager to return have considered going from Britain to a third country before flying to Hong Kong, a trip that could mean spending up to six weeks in quarantine.
Both Harrow and ESF said their stranded teachers were trying to find their way back, while arranging to conduct online classes remotely to minimise the impact on their students. The time difference means the teachers in Britain have to work the night shift to see their students in Hong Kong.
Some parents were concerned that the teaching quality would suffer, although others felt the impact was limited and the situation was unavoidable.