Coronavirus: suspension of in-person classes hampering kindergarten pupils’ abilities, Hong Kong educators warn
- Hong Kong’s leader says in-person classes will now be suspended until February 21
- Educators worry that pupils are falling behind in their learning, as some have struggled to learn basic skills such as holding chopsticks
Educators have warned that prolonged suspensions of in-person kindergarten classes due to the coronavirus pandemic over the past two years have undermined the development and self-care abilities of Hong Kong’s pupils, with some only learning basic skills such as holding a pen in primary school.
Educators said they believed the ban would not be lifted at least until March due to the fifth wave of infections currently expanding across the city.
Local secondary schools have been allowed to resume full-day classes if at least 70 per cent of pupils and teachers have received both vaccine doses since last September.
A veteran kindergarten principal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was contradictory that K3 classes with children eligible for vaccination could not resume in-person, full-day lessons, even if they met the 70 per cent target.
She said in-person learning helped children to develop social, interpersonal and self-care skills.