New Tighter Covid-19 Measures in Schools
Students must sit 1m apart in the classroom, all students and teachers must return to wearing face masks, and co-curricular activities are suspended. Singapore’s Minustry of Education has stepped up safety measures in all local and international schools for one month, starting Monday.
In line with Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) of the government's increased efforts to reduce the growing cases of Covid-19, tighter restrictions will be imposed from Sunday (May 16) to Sunday, June 13. The new rules will affect all international/private schools, MOE Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Special Education (SPED) schools, junior colleges, Millennia Institute and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL).
From Monday:
- All students and staff must wear masks, and not face shields, when in school and on campus, (unless they are not able to due to special needs or medical conditions).
- Lectures will be capped at a maximum of 50 students.
- Exams can go ahead but with no more than 50 students in one room.
- All Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) must switch to online, and all other after school clubs will be suspended.
- All large-scale events will continue to be cancelled or postponed, or held virtually, if possible. This could affect end of year celebrations such as graduations.
- Desks must be spaced 1m apart in all classrooms.
- In-person singing and wind instrument classes will be suspended.
Private tuition and enrichment centres can continue operating but are encouraged to switch to online lessons.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new restrictions at a press conference on Friday. He also commented on the recent Covid19 cases among students at some local schools, saying that there is no evidence of Covid-19 transmission within schools.
Mr Wong said:
“We’ve had a few of such cases where children, students in schools, have been infected. Till now, all of these infections have taken place outside of the school setting.”
Other social distancing measures announced in Phase 2 include:
Social gatherings are limited to two people; everyone is advised to work from home, if possible; and no dining is allowed at restaurants abs hawker centres.
