More activities such as co-curricular activities (CCAs) and physical education (PE) classes will be allowed to resume as all students return to school daily from 29 June, but the resumption will be done gradually and with safe distancing measures in place.
In a media statement on Wednesday (17 June), the Ministry of Education (MOE) said it intends to “gradually bring back [CCAs]”, which are “essential elements of school experiences.”
MOE’s updates on the arrangements for schools in phase 2 came just after Monday’s announcement that social activities and businesses will be allowed to resume from 19 June, marking Singapore’s move into the second phase of its reopening.
Arrangements For Schools In Phase 2: Schools to reduce intermingling across classes and levels. | Image source: Ministry of Education/Facebook
Arrangements For Schools In Phase 2: Co-curricular Activities, Physical Education Classes to Resume
According to MOE, schools will “try to restart CCAs that can be conducted by coaches, instructors or CCA teachers through digital means.” These include dance, computer programming, art and robotics.
“For activities that are more suited to be conducted face-to-face, schools can implement them at the class level, to minimise intermingling. This means that students may not be participating in an activity that is their original CCA choice, but they will get to learn something new, together as a class,” it added.
In addition, schools will allow group activities and small-sided games that involve minimal physical contact in PE classes, such as badminton, table-tennis, volleyball, sepak takraw, with a limit of five per group and safe management measures.
“This may require some creative change in game formats and rules,” said MOE.
Separately, MOE centre-based lessons will also resume for non-graduating levels from 29 June. These include those at the MOE Language Centres.
Schools To Continue With Safe Management Measures
MOE said schools will continue with their safe management measures which include daily temperature-taking and visual screening for students and staff. Those who are unwell, or have household members Home Quarantine Order/Stay Home Notice or who have flu-like symptoms, must stay away from school.
Frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces and disinfection of the premises will continue to be done daily. Students will continue to practice frequent hand-washing throughout the school day, and wipe down tables and shared equipment after use.
Image source: iStock
Intermingling across classes and levels will also be reduced, through fixed exam-style seating in classrooms with small group discussions, as well as staggered arrival, dismissal and recess timings.
Students are to continue sitting in spaced seating arrangements in canteens, where possible, and fixed groups of up to five from the same class will be allowed.
“Students and staff are required to wear masks. In situations where wearing of masks may not be practical such as students with health conditions, they may wear face shields instead,” MOE said.
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