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02303

12 April 2003 

RE-OPENING OF SECONDARY & PRIMARY SCHOOLS

1             All secondary and primary schools will be re-opened on 14 April 2003 (Monday) and 16 April 2003 (Wednesday) respectively.

2             The Ministry of Education (MOE) would like to reassure parents that Principals and teachers of all secondary and primary schools have been preparing their schools to ensure that the students resume classes next week in as safe an environment as possible.

3             The Ministry has produced a SARS education module (customised for the different levels - post secondary, secondary and primary¹) which will be taught by the teachers to every student on the first day of school re-opening. The module aims to provide students with information about SARS and what has been done by the Government to contain the spread of SARS. It also provides students with a greater awareness and understanding of how they can manage and cope with SARS.

4             The secondary school package consists of a set of powerpoint slides on SARS, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SARS for teachers' reference, as well as information sheets and activity worksheets for students. The activity sheets reinforce and revisit the key learning points about SARS, and include a quiz, a crossword puzzle, a matching exercise, etc. for the students. You may wish to access our website: <http://www.moe.gov.sg/sars/> for the module.

5             In addition, school premises (classrooms and common areas) have been cleaned, and teachers have been briefed on how to conduct the SARS education package and daily screening of students.

6             The Ministry urges all parents to exercise their social responsibility and work with the Principals and teachers of our schools to ensure that students can carry on with their education in as safe an environment as possible. Parents can play their part by:

1. Providing information on their children's travel activities through a Declaration Form to be submitted on the first day of school;
   
   
2. Checking their children's health daily, including taking their temperature, before sending them to school - if their children are unwell, bring them to a doctor and send them to school only after they are well; and
   
   
3. Reminding their children to practise good personal hygiene.
   

1. Take the SARS lessons on the first day of school seriously;
   
   
2. Practise good personal hygiene; and
   
   
3. Exercise personal and social responsibility, in particular not to come to school when they are unwell, but instead ask their parents to take them to a doctor and come back to school only after they are well.
   

^[1]Copies of the primary school package will be distributed to schools on Monday, 14 April 2003.