Coronavirus: Hong Kong school principals accuse officials of double standards over return of in-person classes

International schools are potentially eligible for full-time learning on their campuses, but local ones can only operate on a half-day basis

Education Bureau says relaxed measures available to international schools because their larger facilities are better suited to social distancing

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Covid-19 restrictions on schools running face-to-face lessons are being eased from May 24. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 8:01pm, 13 May 2021Updated: 10:16am, 14 May 2021

Hong Kong’s international schools can apply for permission to resume full-time, on-campus learning this month, drawing complaints from their local counterparts which will only be allowed to operate on a half-day basis.

The Education Bureau announced on Tuesday that the city’s kindergartens, primary and secondary schools would be free to resume face-to-face classes for all students from May 24 – regardless of whether teachers underwent regular Covid-19 testing as previously required, but on the condition they opened for half days only.

However, some international schools are being allowed to run full-day sessions, based on their facilities being suitable for social distancing, leading some in the local sector to accuse officials of applying double standards.

The French International School, one of the city’s top such institutions, told parents on Wednesday that the Education Bureau had given it permission to resume full-day, face-to-face classes from May 24.

Discovery College, a school offering primary and secondary education under the English Schools Foundation, is also expected to resume similar operations on the same date, according to an email to parents seen by the Post.

The Education Bureau told the Post the extra relaxation measures were available for international schools because they “generally have more usable spaces and facilities for implementation of precautionary measures to ensure adequate distancing of students”.

“If such schools have their own canteens or specified areas designated for meal purposes, flexibility may be granted for such schools to operate full-day sessions,” a bureau spokeswoman said.

One local secondary school principal said the rationale for the government move was “difficult to understand”, given spacious campuses and ample space for pupils to have lunch was not exclusive to international schools.