Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

In-person classes to resume on April 19

In-person classes to resume on April 19

Kindergartens, primary schools and international schools will resume face-to-face classes after Easter on April 19, while secondary schools will do so after candidates sitting for Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exams have completed tests for their core subjects starting April 22.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said authorities understand parents' frustration as having classes in school is very important for children, so the government decided to stick to the original plan of allowing students to return to school after the Easter holiday on April 19.

She also said the Education Bureau has discussed contingency plans with schools for the HKDSE exams, including postponing them to May, although authorities still aim to start the exam as scheduled on April 22.

After face-to-face classes resume, Lam said school staff and visitors will be required to present vaccine passes to enter campuses.

"But we do not require students to get jabbed for them to have face-to-face classes as we respect their right to receive education," she said.

Lam said the first-dose coverage for those aged 12 to 19 has reached 95 percent and authorities aim to increase the vaccination rate for children aged three to 11 to 90 percent by end-April from the current 57 percent.

"Getting the jabs can protect children and provide better immunity for schools, so children can resume more activities," Lam added.

Joseph Tsang Kay-yan, cochairman of the Medical Association's advisory committee on communicable diseases, said there could be risk of transmission at schools if the government fails to come up with arrangements to resume face-to-face classes in a gradual manner.

Tsang expects the pandemic will not be completely under control by April 19 and many students may not be vaccinated.

He said if the government resumes face-to-face classes, it should require schools to reduce the number of students in each class as well as school hours to lower the risk of transmission caused by students gathering.

Lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit said the government should not resume face-to-face classes at kindergartens because young kids have not been vaccinated and are not stricter in their observance of personal hygiene.

Yang said the government should provide subsidies for kindergartens to set up air purifiers in classrooms.

He also said many parents have taken their children to the mainland due to the severe pandemic situation in Hong Kong and might not want their kids to return to the SAR as they worry the government may change its policy again. He added schools and kindergartens should allow students to choose between face-to-face and online classes.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority announced yesterday that exam admissions forms will be issued to candidates around early to mid-April if the DSE exams start on April 22 as scheduled.

Candidates will also receive rapid test kits from the authority. School candidates will receive the kits with the admission form from their schools, while private candidates will have to collect them from the authority's office. Candidates have to take rapid tests before starting the exam.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×