Arrangements for Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning Under Phase 3 (Heightened Alert)

1. As Singapore moves into Phase 3 (Heightened Alert) with gradual easing of community safe management measures (SMMs), the Ministry of Education (MOE) will progressively bring students back to school after the June school holidays. The Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will also gradually increase the number of students allowed back on campus for face-to-face learning. Schools and IHL campuses will continue to adhere to SMMs to keep students and staff safe.

Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning

Schools

2. To ease into full resumption of school when Term 3 begins on Monday, 28 June 2021, the following arrangements have been made for students from primary and secondary schools, junior colleges (JCs) and Millennia Institute (MI) for the first week of school (please refer to the ANNEX for the illustrative schedule for Week 1):

• From Monday, 28 June 2021, Primary 4 to 6, Secondary 3 to 5 and all JC/MI students will return to school.
• Secondary 1 and 2 students will be on Home-Based Learning (HBL) till Wednesday, 30 June 2021, and will return to school from Thursday, 1 July 2021.
• Primary 1 to 3 students will be on HBL for the first week, and schools will continue to provide instructions and support for students to access online and hardcopy HBL materials.

3. All levels of students will return to school from Tuesday, 6 July 2021 onwards, as Monday, 5 July 2021 is a school holiday (Youth Day).

4. For centre-based classes (e.g. Third Languages, Art and Music Elective Programmes), graduating students will resume in-person lessons from Week 1 of Term 3 while non-graduating students will continue with HBL. Centre-based classes will resume in-person for all students from Week 2 of Term 3.

5. To facilitate care arrangements, MOE Kindergartens and school-based Student Care Centres will resume fully from Monday, 28 June 2021.

6. For Special Education school students, we will stagger their return to school from Monday, 28 June 2021, based on students' needs, with all students to be back in school from Tuesday, 6 July 2021.

7. We plan to gradually resume in-person Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) from the second week of Term 3, starting with low-risk activities. Given the need to minimise intermingling of students from different schools in line with the gradual resumption of student activities, the National School Games for Junior and C Divisions as well as the remaining games for A Division will be cancelled.

Institutes of Higher Learning

8. IHLs will progressively increase the number of students allowed back on campus for in-person learning. From 21 June 2021, small-group classes or consultations that were previously conducted online can resume on campus. Students will continue to return for essential in-person sessions such as labs and practicals. In-person examinations will also continue to be held with no more than 50 persons per venue. All in-person classes and other activities on campus are subject to strict SMMs. Classes and lectures with more than 50 persons will continue to be held online.

Safe Management Measures in Schools and IHLs

9. Schools and IHLs will ensure that SMMs are in place to keep students safe, such as:

• Wearing of masks in school and on campus at all times;
• Daily temperature-taking in schools, and continued temperature and symptom screening at entrances of IHLs. Students/staff with Acute Respiratory Infection symptoms will be required to stay away from schools/IHLs and are advised to see a doctor;
• Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces and disinfection of premises daily;
• Frequent hand-washing throughout the school day and the wipe-down of tables after use;
• Fixed exam style seating in schools;
• Staggered recess in schools. During recess, students are seated in fixed arrangement with at least 1m spacing in canteens, classrooms or at appropriate venues;
• Dining in canteens and dining halls at the IHLs to continue with the necessary SMMs, given that students and staff are on campus for a longer period of time.

10. Students should have their TraceTogether token or app with them throughout the school day to facilitate accurate contact tracing, should the need arise. Visitors and staff must check in using their TT token or app to be allowed entry into schools/institutions, and must have the token or app with them throughout.

Private Education Institutions

11. All Private Education Institutions (PEIs) must continue to abide by all national SMM guidelines. They are strongly encouraged to take reference from the measures for schools and IHLs, and decide if they wish to adopt any that are tighter than national SMMs.

Private Tuition and Enrichment Centres

12. All tuition and enrichment classes for individuals 18 years old and below can resume in-person lessons from 21 June 2021. Tuition and enrichment centres should regularly check and adhere strictly to MOE's requirements for tuition and enrichment centres¹. Sports, and arts and culture classes should also take reference from SportSG and the National Arts Council's latest guidelines.

13. MOE strongly urges all parents and students to play their part by continuing to be socially responsible, to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection in our educational institutions. It is crucial that all students and staff continue to adhere to screening measures and practise good personal hygiene. If feeling unwell, students and staff should seek medical attention immediately, and not come to school or IHL campuses, as well as tuition and enrichment centres. Parents are to keep their children at home if there are children or adult household members who are unwell with flu-like symptoms. They can return to school if their household members are tested negative for COVID-19.

14. MOE will continue to monitor the situation closely and make adjustments in accordance with the national posture.

Footnotes

1. The requirements can be found on: https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/sector.