Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will be adopting a more sustainable approach towards Covid-19 cases in schools to keep them safe while ensuring that students can continue learning with fewer disruptions, said Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing in a Facebook post on Friday (Aug. 13).
Fewer disruptions to students' learning
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Home-Based Learning (HBL) has been implemented nationwide twice.
Chan said that this was disruptive to students, parents, and teachers, and should only be re-enforced as a last resort.
From May to July this year, 216 out of 600,000 in the student population were infected by the Covid-19 virus, with a majority due to household transmissions.
Out of these 213, 103 were primary school students.
During this period, MOE responded to confirmed cases in schools by placing the entire school level on HBL.
Even with the HBL limited to specific levels, the impact on students' learning and family schedules was still quite significant, said Chan.
As such, since early August, MOE has moved towards a more targeted approach that aims to impact a smaller group of students.
Instead of placing the entire level on HBL, only close contacts and students from the same classes or CCA groups are placed under Leave of Absence (LOA) or Quarantine Order (QO).
The education minister said that this further minimises disruptions to students.
Covid-19 testing for both students and school staff
Also, MOE plans to expand its options for less-invasive testing methods for children and families, which will help target which students should stay away from school, and for how long.
For example, with more regular and faster testing using self-administered Antigen Rapid Tests (ART), students and staff who test negative can return to school earlier.
To ensure the safety of students, non-vaccinated teachers and staff will undergo bi-weekly ART testing, under the new “Vaccinate or Regular Test” regime from Oct. 1.
This will also apply to non-government employees who have regular contact with students aged 12 and below, including those working in tuition and enrichment centres.
What else can be done to ensure the safety of students?
Chan urged families who have household members who experience Covid-19 symptoms to keep students at home, and away from schools and tuition centres where other students gather.
Teachers and staff should continue to be vigilant and send students who display even mild symptoms home.
Top image via Chan Chun Sing/ Facebook.