Category: News

Further suspension of face-to-face classes for all schools

 As the situation of COVID-19 remains severe, the Government needs to continue to take stringent measures to cope with the epidemic. The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (December 21) that all kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering non-local curriculum) would further suspend face-to-face classes and school activities after their scheduled Christmas holidays until January 10, 2021. During the period, private schools offering non-formal curriculum (commonly known as “tutorial schools”) will also suspend face-to-face classes and school activities of all levels.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, “During the period of suspension of face-to-face classes and school activities, schools should continue to adopt diversified modes of teaching to facilitate students to continue learning at home. Similar to the arrangements before the Christmas holidays, schools can consider arranging Primary Six students to return to schools on a need basis to take the internal assessment for the purpose of Secondary School Places Allocation, and arranging Secondary Six classes or classes participating in this academic year’s overseas public examinations to return to schools to attend lessons to prepare for the examinations or take internal examinations at schools. The examinations or face-to-face classes should be conducted on a half-day basis. The upper limit for students to return to a school for face-to-face classes and examinations should be capped at one-sixth of the school’s maximum permitted capacity.

Learning the lesson of “Happiness”

Starting from 23 September, face-to-face classes will be resumed by phase in all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in the territory. Students are about to resume school life after a prolonged period of home learning. While this is what most of them are looking forward to, there may be some who feel somewhat stressed or perturbed and need more time and teachers’ assistance to adjust to the change.

         As such, the Education Bureau will organise 20 regional workshops for school personnel between 16 September and 4 November. Psychiatrists will be invited to share practical skills in providing emotional support for students, introducing approaches to counselling and therapeutic intervention, and discussing case studies, with a view to enhancing the capabilities of teachers and school personnel in supporting students so that they are less affected by negative emotions and stress, and can grow up happily.

         In children’s vocabulary about emotions, “happy” is one of the first words they learn because happiness is a basic emotional response typical of human beings. However, we often hear students and teenagers express being unhappy. It seems that happiness fades away as one grows up. Why is this so?

Categories
News News News

Salute to all teachers in Hong Kong

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 10) expressed wholehearted respect to all teachers (including principals) in Hong Kong on the annual Teachers’ Day.
      
     A spokesman for the EDB said, “Though the ‘Teacher Tribute 2020 – Teacher Respect Day Celebration and Commendation Ceremony’ has been postponed to November 4 due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the EDB appeals to all students, parents and all sectors of the community to pay tribute to teachers on the Teachers’ Day, and thank them for their selfless dedication, especially their great efforts and hard work in facilitating students to achieve the goal of ‘suspending classes without suspending learning’ for more than half a year.”
      
     He said, “In light of the evolving situation of COVID-19 since the beginning of this year, face-to-face classes have been suspended except for the short period of class resumption between end May and early July. Teachers have adopted various means (including the use of electronic platforms) to help students learn at home. The new learning and teaching mode has brought unprecedented challenges to teachers, and may have increased their workload. Yet at the same time, teachers have kept making new attempts and managed to overcome a lot of difficulties for the sake of students, demonstrating boundless creativity while exploring beyond their limits, leading to fruitful learning and teaching experiences.”