In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has introduced a series of new measures to prepare students and parents for when the situation gets worse.
Starting next Wednesday (1 Apr), schools in Singapore will have 1 day of home-based learning. Dismissal times will also be staggered to reduce congestion.
According to The Straits Times (ST), the affected schools include:
The above schools will conduct their home-based learning on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays respectively.
This will hopefully prepare parents and students for “more days of home-based learning if and when required”, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (27 Mar).
Home-based learning can take on different forms — e-lessons, worksheets and textbooks, and “live” video lessons conducted by teachers.
On days of home-based learning, students will have 4 to 5 hours of learning, 2 of which can be used to access electronic devices.
Students and parents will receive instructions from next Monday (30 Mar) on how to access home-based learning materials.
Students who require digital devices for their learning, but do not have access to them, will also receive assistance.
In addition, dismissal times will also be staggered to reduce crowding while students are on their way home, reported ST.
Schools will remain open for students whose parents are not able to make alternative childcare arrangements. Parents working in essential services like healthcare or public transport will get priority.
When probed, Mr Ong said the measures will last depending on the duration of the outbreak.
ST quoted him as saying:
We will not want to do something dramatic, sudden, that will result in school closure… We still have options. We are not like many countries, where they are forced into sudden school closures.
While we think making students learn from home is a good move to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, we wonder if students and parents will survive the disruption.
We hope the outbreak ends soon, so life can get back to normal.
Featured image adapted from Facebook.
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