Hong Kong Schools Reopen After CNY

This article is part of an editorial series on Covid-19

Students at kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong can return to classrooms after the Chinese New Year holidays. Schools will reopen after another lengthy period of closures due to Covid-19 – but only on a half-day basis and with a 30% cap on students.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau said:

"We understand that schools and parents very much hope that students can have more time for face-to-face classes so that their learning opportunities will not be deprived of and their social, physical and mental developments will not be hindered due to the prolonged fight against the epidemic.

Hence, the EDB, after taking into account the latest development of the epidemic, advice of health experts and the preparedness of schools, decided that all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering non-local curriculum) as well as schools offering non-formal curriculum (commonly known as 'tutorial schools') will be allowed to arrange more students to return to campuses on a half-day basis in accordance with school-based arrangements after the schools' Chinese New Year's holidays, with the number of students capped at one-third of the total number of students."

The EDB previously launched a Covid-19 Targeted Group Testing Scheme for all school staff at boarding sections of special schools. It is now encouraging all school staff to undergo regular virus testing once every two weeks "to have the whole school back to resume face-to-face lessons at the earliest opportunity".