Students and staff who have returned from mainland China in the past 14 days will get a 14 day leave of absence (LOA).

This move was announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) today (Jan. 27) during a press conference as part of measures taken to curb the spread of the Wuhan virus in Singapore.

LOA for students and staff

The LOA applies to staff and students in MOE schools, which include MOE kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Special Education schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute, polytechnics, and ITE.

More specifically, it applies to students and staff from polytechnics and ITE who have come back from mainland China on Jan. 14, 2020 or later, and students and staff from schools who return on Jan. 15, 2020, or later.

Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung revealed that from the primary to JC level, as well as polytechnics and ITE, a total of five students and staff went to the province of Hubei within the past 14 days.

Nearly 900 students and staff visited the rest of mainland China in the past 14 days.

This number is expected to increase as travel declarations are still coming in, he added.

The leave will be valid for a period of 14 days starting from the day after arrival in Singapore.

During this time, students on LOA will be supported via a home-based learning plan, MOE added.

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In addition to existing measures

This LOA measure is in addition to the issuance of advisories reminding staff and students to stay safe during this period. Students and staff were also required to declare their travel history.

MOE strongly advises students and families to monitor their health and adopt good personal hygiene habits.

Parents should also ensure that their children seek immediate medical attention if unwell, and recover fully before returning to school.

Schools will reopen as usual, and there will be daily temperature taking exercises from Jan. 29.

ECDA

Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee announced at the same conference today that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will implement a LOA for staff and children returning from mainland China.

This applies to those returning from Jan. 28 onwards, as well as those who returned within the last 14 days.

Lee stated that about 500 to 600 preschool teachers and 1,000 preschool children have gone to China and returned to Singapore.

They return to school on Feb. 12.

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Top photo via MOE/FB & Wikipedia