(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) The epidemic rebounded and Hong Kong primary and secondary schools and kindergartens had early summer vacation
China News Agency, Hong Kong, July 10-The Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 10th that in view of the sharp rise in the number of newly diagnosed cases of local new coronary pneumonia in the past few days, all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong can take early summer holidays from July 13.
Yang Runxiong, director of the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said during the meeting with the media that since the resumption of classes at the end of May, there have been no cases of school infection in Hong Kong, reflecting the effectiveness of the school’s anti-epidemic work. However, due to the current surge in local cases, the Education Bureau, after comprehensive consideration and consultation with experts, decided that all elementary and secondary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong would be allowed to take summer vacation in advance from July 13.
Yang Runxiong said that this was a decision after careful consideration. Since there is more than a week away from the summer vacation in most schools, the impact of this arrangement on students' learning is acceptable. This arrangement does not mean that the school has a great risk, but it hopes to reduce the flow of students. This move will have a positive impact on the overall epidemic prevention, and hope that parents can be assured.
Yang Runxiong mentioned that if the school needs or is conducting important examinations, flexible arrangements can be made according to the actual situation. For elementary schools, the Primary 5 submission test is related to the allocation of secondary schools. If the school has arranged for the submission test from July 13 to 17, it can still take the summer vacation after the exam, or it can choose to postpone the submission test to September; For secondary schools, S3 to S5 can be put on the summer vacation after completing the exam next week.
Yang Runxiong said that the school can only arrange half-day exams every day, and must take appropriate sanitation and epidemic prevention measures. Since the exam itself is a static activity, there will not be much communication between students, so I believe that the exam is still a safe activity.
Yang Runxiong emphasized that it is a respect for the school’s professional decision whether or not to conduct an important exam and give the decision to the school. However, if the epidemic situation is not safe to go to school, the Education Bureau will not allow examinations. But overall, the school is still a safe place.
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination will be released on July 22. Yang Runxiong said that the current list arrangement is still in accordance with the original plan, students can then return to school to receive results. The Education Bureau will continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation, and will make an announcement if necessary to make changes. (Finish)