With gradual ease of safe management measures in Singapore, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the resumption of selected activities in school for students.
This includes primary and secondary schools, Special Education (SPED) schools, junior colleges (JCs), Millennia Institute (MI) and the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).
In a press release, the ministry said that schools can resume activities starting from Tuesday (10 August). However, not every activity has been green lit.
Safety Measures Of Activities In School For Students
In line with Singapore's transition to the endemic state, MOE announced that there will be changes in activities in school for students in schools and IHLs.
Regardless of a student's vaccination status, the following changes will be administered from Tuesday:
For Schools
- Indoor and outdoor mask-on activities in every school for students will be allowed in groups of up to five pax.
- In-person Co-Curricular Activities will be allowed to resume for Secondary schools, JCs, MI and SPED schools with senior or secondary sections. In-person activities that involve external vendors or are conducted at external venues may also resume with a cap of 50 pax.
- Primary schools can resume outdoor mask-on unstructured play within their classes.
- In-person centre-based lessons for all cohorts can resume. This includes non-graduating cohorts.
For Institutes of Higher Learning
- Indoor and outdoor mask-on activities at IHLs can resume in groups of five. This includes activities in school for students such as small-group consultation, group/project work and in-person Co-Curricular Activities.
- Outdoor mask-off activities of up to five persons will also be allowed.
- Indoor mask-off activities will be allowed in groups of up to five as long as all persons in the group are vaccinated.
- In-person classes, lecture sizes and physical events will continue to have a cap of no more than 50 persons.
- Internships and work attachments will continue. This is while adhering to the prevailing safety measures at the organisations the students are attached with.
In addition to these, all Private Education Institutions and Privately-Funded Schools will be required to follow prevailing national safe management measures.
Those with similar students profiles and conducting similar activities in school and IHL for students are strongly advised by MOE to take reference from their safety measures "and adopt them where possible."
Meanwhile, tuition and enrichment centres should continue to regularly check and adhere to MOE's safe management measure requirements.
For sports as well as arts and culture classes, these should also take reference from Sport Singapore and the National Arts Council's latest guidelines. These classes are strongly encouraged to be conducted online.
All Schools And IHLs To Continue Ensuring Safety Measures Are In Place
In order to safeguard the well-being of all students and staff, MOE added that schools and IHLs will continue to ensure that safety management measures are in place including the following:
- Wearing masks
- Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces
- Daily disinfection of premises
- Frequent hand-washing
- Wiping down of equipment and tables after every use
- Fixed exam-style seating
The ministry also strongly encourages all eligible MOE staff and those working with students under the age of 12 years old to get vaccinated by October 1, 2021. This is to keep educational institutions and the community safe.
MOE adds, "Those who are not yet fully vaccinated, unvaccinated or medically ineligible for the vaccination will be tested twice a week from October 1, under the 'Vaccinate or Regular Test' regime. More details on the testing process will be shared in due course."
"MOE will continue to monitor the situation closely, and review how our schools and IHLs can safely resume more activities in tandem with national guidelines, if the COVID-19 situation allows," says the ministry.
Lead image source from Facebook / Ministry of Education, Singapore.
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