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Phased Resumption of Face-To-Face Lessons for Primary Schools from 11 October

Published Date: 07 October 2021 12:00 PM

News Press Releases

1. The Ministry of Education (MOE) had earlier implemented Home-Based Learning (HBL)1 in primary schools and Special Education (SPED) schools to reduce the possible disruption to the cohort taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and as an additional precautionary measure. MOE will progressively bring Primary 1 to 6 students back to school for face-to-face lessons from Monday, 11 October 2021, to ensure physical schooling resumes in a safe manner. This is in line with our approach to minimise prolonged HBL where possible, for the socio-emotional well-being of students.

Phased Resumption of Face-To-Face Classes

2. To ensure that Safe Management Measures (SMMs) can be implemented effectively as students return to school, MOE will phase the return of students next week:

  1. Primary 3 to 6 students returning from Monday, 11 October.
  2. Primary 1 and 2 students to continue with HBL on Monday, 11 and Tuesday, 12 October, and return to school for face-to-face lessons only from Wednesday, 13 October. SPED schools will be provided with more details on the phased return of students.

3. Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) and other after-school activities will continue to be suspended for all levels, including secondary schools, Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute.

Self-Testing Prior to Return to School

4. Parents of Primary 1 to 5 students are to do an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) swab on their children at home on either 8 or 9 October prior to returning to school and report the results via a link that will be sent to them2.

Cancellation of Year-End Examinations for Primary 3 and 4 Students

5. To allow more time for curriculum recovery due to disruptions brought about by COVID-19, the year-end examinations for Primary 3 and 4 students will be cancelled3. Schools will be able to draw on information from a range of school-based assessments that were conducted throughout the year to report students' learning progress and provide feedback, as well as make recommendations on students' subject combination (e.g. whether to offer Standard or Foundation level for specific subjects from the start of Primary 5), where necessary.

6. The year-end examinations for Primary 5 students will still proceed under strict SMMs, as it will allow students and parents to obtain a better understanding of students' learning progress in relation to the Achievement Level (AL) scoring system, prior to taking the PSLE next year.

PSLE Marking Exercise (18 – 21 Oct) & School Holiday (22 Oct)

7. The 2021 PSLE Marking Exercise will be conducted over four days, from 18 to 21 October. In line with existing practice, primary school students will not be required to report to school during this period of marking4 , and there will be no HBL conducted.

8. For this exceptional year, Friday, 22 October, the day after the PSLE Marking Exercise, will be declared a school holiday for primary schools. All primary school students will return to school from 25 October (Monday).

Tuition/enrichment Centers and Private Education Institutions (PEIs)

9. In line with the return of students to primary schools, lessons for students aged 12 and below at tuition and enrichment centres may resume face-to-face from 11 October, with strict SMMs in place. However, MOE strongly encourages centres to continue conducting these classes online as much as possible.

10. Face-to-face classes for students aged 12 and below in PEIs may also resume from 11 October, subject to all prevailing national SMMs. PEIs with similar student profiles and that conduct similar activities to schools are strongly advised to take reference from measures for schools, and adopt them where possible. This includes phasing the return of students, and self-testing of students prior to returning to school. PEIs may also continue to implement HBL for their students where feasible.

11. MOE will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and implement additional measures to keep our school environment safe, where necessary. All students and staff are urged to continue practising good personal hygiene, adhere to SMMs, and exercise social responsibility.


Footnotes

  1. Press release on 'Additional precautionary measures for primary schools in the lead up to PSLE' can be found here: http://www.moe.gov.sg/news/press-releases/20210918-additional-precautionary-measures-for-primary-schools-in-the-lead-up-to-psle

  2. Primary 6 students were already back in schools earlier to sit for the PSLE between 30 September to 6 October.

  3. Primary 1 and 2 do not have year-end examinations.

  4. SPED school students will continue to report to school during 18 to 22 October, as per current practice for PSLE Marking Exercise.