Coronavirus Hong Kong: in-person classes from kindergartens to secondary schools to resume in stages until mid-May
- Students will stagger return, higher forms will be first to be back on campuses from April 19 for half-day classes
- Full-day classes unlikely for primary schools and kindergartens so soon, says Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung
Kindergartens to secondary schools in Hong Kong will resume half-day, in-person classes in stages until mid-May, with students of higher forms the first to return to campuses, the education chief has said.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced last month that face-to-face classes would return from April 19 at the earliest, beginning with primary and international schools as well as kindergartens, but no further details were revealed.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Thursday spelled out a revised plan that allowed half-day in-person classes to resume, adding that full-day classes would not likely take place in primary schools and kindergartens so soon, given the vaccination rate.
“It [a gradual resumption] could allow more time for the schools to get used to it … we still need to discuss with school councils,” Yeung told lawmakers at an education panel in the Legislative Council on Thursday.
Under the new plan, senior grades of primary schools will be the first batch of students to attend in-person classes on April 19, while the junior grades will return to campuses two weeks later on May 3.
