MOE to stagger return to school for kindergarten, primary school students in January
SINGAPORE — There will be a staggered return to school for kindergarten children and primary school students next month, in order to ensure effective implementation of safe management measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a media release on Friday (18 December), the Ministry of Education said that all its kindergartens, primary and secondary schools will start the school year on the week of 4 January, while junior colleges and Millennia Institute will start on 11 January.
To better welcome Kindergarten 1 children and Primary 1 students to their new schools, only K1 and P1 students will report to school on 4 January (Monday).
Kindergarten 2 children and Primary 2 to Primary 6 students will remain at home on 4 January, and report to school on 5 January (Tuesday).
On 4 January, if needed, at most one parent/guardian will be allowed to accompany their K1 or P1 child/ward to their new school to familiarise with the new environment, while still keeping students safe.
Kindergarten Care will not be open for K2 children on 4 January to allow MOE kindergartens to accommodate the K1 parents on that day. School-based Student Care Centres will remain open in the afternoon of 4 January for enrolled P2 to P6 students.
All secondary schools, JCs and Millennia Institute will resume their school year as scheduled, and parents/guardians will be allowed only to drop off their children/wards at school.
Most CCAs, school activities allowed to reopen
In line with the current national posture, MOE said that schools will reopen fully with most co-curricular activities and school activities allowed, and higher-risk activities suspended or limited to a smaller group cap.
To ensure that schools remain a safe place for teaching and learning, safe management measures will continue to be observed when schools reopen, including visual screening and temperature-taking of individuals, observance of high standards of hygiene, and safe distancing between students and staff.
Students who are unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever or cough are reminded to seek medical attention and stay away from school.
MOE said that it is not mandatory for students to have their TraceTogether tokens when school reopens. The tokens will only be required in schools after nationwide distribution is completed.
NSG to resume in February, SYF Arts Presentation from March to May
From mid to late-February, the National School Games (NSG) will resume for sports across A, B and Senior Divisions which meet the national guidelines.
From late-March to early-May, the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentation for secondary schools, JCs and Millennia Institute will also resume for events which meet the national guidelines. These activities will be conducted with the necessary modifications and safe management measures in place to ensure the safety of participants and organisers.
“We are working on how the remaining sports and SYF Arts Presentation events which do not meet the national guidelines, can resume in a safe and meaningful way for the 2021 season and details will be announced separately,” MOE said in its media release.
“More details on the resumption of the Junior and C Divisions, slated for the second half of 2021, will also be provided at a later date.”
SPED schools to start on 4 January too
All students in Special Education (SPED) schools will start their school year on 4 January. The safe management measures in SPED schools will continue to be aligned to that of the mainstream schools.
Measures specific to SPED programmes, such as those to ensure the safe conduct of therapy sessions, will also continue.
Safe management measures will continue to be observed at the Institutes of Higher Learning.
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