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In-person CCAs to stop, no group activities for PE classes as MOE tightens Covid-19 rules

2021-07-20 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - All in-person co-curricular activities (CCAs) and non-essential enrichment lessons in schools will be suspended until further notice.

In addition, for physical education classes, schools will conduct only individual mask-off activities in outdoor or well-ventilated venues, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Tuesday (July 20).

These are among the additional precautions that will be in place for Singapore's return to phase two (heightened alert) from July 22 to Aug 18, said the ministry.

"To minimise the impact on students' learning, schools (including special education schools and MOE kindergartens) and institutes of higher learning will remain open but with tightened safe management measures to curb the risk of Covid-19 transmission," said MOE.

Beyond the tightened guidelines on CCAs and physical education classes, activities such as external CCAs and learning journeys will remain suspended.

Mask-off music and drama classes will be suspended, and centre-based classes will be conducted online for all non-graduating cohorts.

School-based activities and after-school care arrangements will continue, subject to the tightened safe management measures.

MOE also said existing precautions will remain in place. These include fixed exam-style seating in classes and fixed seating arrangements for students during recess.

National examinations may be affected by the tightened measures, the ministry said, adding that it will update schools about the arrangements for these exams.

On measures for institutes of higher learning, MOE said that they will continue to limit physical class and lecture sizes to 50 people.

"Internships and work attachments will continue, with students adhering to the prevailing safe management measures at the organisations they are attached to," it said.

Across schools, students and staff who have been put under the Ministry of Health's health risk warning - for those who visited hot spots at the same time as a confirmed Covid-19 case or are casual contacts of the case - will be placed on approved absence or leave of absence.

They can return to campus only after they have tested negative in a required Covid-19 swab test.

Students and staff put under the lower-tier health risk alert will be able to return to campus, but they should limit their social interactions, monitor their health and see a doctor promptly if they feel unwell, said MOE. This alert applies to those who have visited hot spots or were in their vicinity.