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The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that schools and kindergartens will re-open for Term 2 as planned on Monday, Mar. 23.

There will also be enhanced precautionary measures in order to keep students and staff in schools and preschools safe.

LOA issued for travel during March holidays

MOE, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) had advised students, parents and staff earlier in March to review their travel plans and refrain from travel overseas.

This is in line with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) travel advisories.

On Mar. 18, MOH announced that, with effect from Mar. 20 at 11:59pm, a 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) will be issued to all Singapore Residents, Long Term Pass holders and short term visitors returning from all countries.

In addition, MOE, MSF, and ECDA announced additional precautionary measures in order "to further protect the education system".

All students and staff of schools, preschools and student care centres who have returned from overseas on or after Mar. 14, the start of the March school holidays, will be issued a 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA).

Day zero of the 14 days begins on the date of their return to Singapore.

This means that, taking effect from Mar. 20, all affected students and staff must stay away from school and preschool for the duration of their SHN or LOA.

"This would better ensure our schools, preschools and student care centres remain a safe environment for our students and staff", said MOE in the release.

Students on LOA, SHN, or quarantine orders, will be be able to continue their learning with home-based learning.

Parents of school-going children who have questions may approach their respective schools for clarifications.

Parents will need to take their own leave if they need to care for their children on LOA or SHN, and employers are encouraged to provide flexible work arrangements for their employees to accommodate such exceptional circumstances, said MOE.

Enhanced hygiene and precautionary measures in schools

MOE also outlined additional hygiene and precautionary measures that have been and are being taken in schools.

The Ministry said that schools have undergone thorough cleaning during the March holidays, including:

• Cleaning all frequently used contact points
• Cleaning of washrooms, such as ensuring hand soap is replenished and sanitary fittings such as water taps are in good working condition
• Jet washing canteen floors and shampooing carpets

MOE will also be implementing the following additional precautionary measures for two weeks when school re-open:

• Suspension of Co-curricular Activities
• Deferment of Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation
• Fixed exam-style seating for primary 3 students and above, and fixed group cluster seating for primary 1 and 2 and MOE Kindergarten students
• Wipe-down routine in classrooms
• Assigned seating and wipe-down routine in canteens
• Assigned play areas for students to play in reduced group sizes

These will supplement precautionary measures that had been previously announced by MOE, such as the suspension of large group and communal activities and staggering of recess times in schools.

The National School Games will continue to be suspended until the end of June holidays.

Precautionary measures in pre-schools

Preschools will be continuing with these precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of preschool staff and children:

• Health checks and more frequent temperature screening for all staff and students. These will occur twice a day for kindergartens and three times a day for childcare centres.
• Restriction of visitors into the preschool. Parents are to drop off and pick up their children outside the preschool, with the advice to stand further apart from one another.
• Suspension of excursions and field trips to minimise risk of exposing children to large crowds. Daily outdoor play and learning for the children will continue.
• Suspension of large group and communal activities such as assemblies and mass celebrations.

  • Children will proceed directly to their classrooms when they arrive in school, where possible.
  • Programmes and activities are to be carried out in small groups.
  • Children are to have their meals in their classrooms or to stagger meal times.

• Limit the cross-deployment of staff across centres, where possible.

MOE, MSF, and ECDA acknowledged that the new measures will affect families, and sought understanding:

"MOE, MSF and ECDA understand that there would be families affected by the new LOA requirement.

We seek their understanding and cooperation to comply with the LOA in order to ensure the well-being of all students and staff when they return to school."

The Ministries said that they will continue to monitor the situation closely in order to keep schools and preschools a safe and secure environment.

Schools and preschools would be continuing to remind students to practise good personal hygiene and social responsibility.

Top image via Facebook / Ministry of Education Singapore.