Several of Hong Kong’s head teachers have voiced concern over difficulties in fulfilling a tougher pupil Covid-19 vaccination requirement for schools to hold full-day, in-person classes.
The heads of schools on Wednesday also warned of disruption to learning if teaching models had to be changed again.
They were speaking a day after the government announced that secondary full-day classes could only be taught on campus with a 90 per cent third-jab rate among pupils by November, tightened from the existing two-dose rule.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
Scientia Secondary School principal Wong Ching-yung said nearly 70 per cent of his pupils had been triple vaccinated, but added he had reservations over whether the 90 per cent mark could be reached in time.
Full-day classes at Hong Kong schools only if 90 per cent get third Covid jab
“It is a big challenge to meet the new requirement within two months. There will be difficulties,” Wong told a radio programme. “Switching between full-day and half-day teaching would pose challenges to teaching and learning, as well as students’ civic education. There will definitely be adverse effects.”
He warned that a half-day programme for schools would not reduce infection risks as transmission of the virus could happen when pupils went out for meals.
Hong Kong team finds second Covid jab a little riskier but odds very small
“A half-day arrangement would effectively usher secondary school students to dine out for lunch, as many of them won’t be having lunch at home after school. This may not fit the Education Bureau’s expectations.
“Schools have been well-equipped on anti-epidemic measures over these two years. I think the risk of catching the coronavirus would be lower if students have lunch at school,” Wong argued.
The three-jab rule would also apply to secondary and primary schools for mask-off, extracurricular activities from October. Head of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council Vu Im-fan said boosting vaccination rates among pupils was possible, but schools would need more time to meet the government’s 90 per cent target.
“It’s not hard getting those who have had two shots to get their third one, as most didn’t have major adverse responses to the vaccine. The issue is the short time allowed for the third dose,” Vu told the same radio show on Wednesday.
She said schools could arrange for vaccination outreach services on campus to assist parents to get their children inoculated in time.
Hong Kong kindergartens want half-day classes to go on, despite Covid-19 spike
Lau Yu-lung, chairman of the government’s scientific committee for vaccines, told another radio programme that the authorities would boost vaccination outreach at schools to increase uptake at the primary and kindergarten levels.
Such sessions could be arranged after at least 10 pupils had expressed an interest, he said.
“As long as there are 10 people willing to have an injection, we will come in cycles, as if we are canvassing for vaccinations.”
More from South China Morning Post:
- Coronavirus: full-day classes allowed at Hong Kong secondary schools only if 90 per cent of pupils have had third Covid jab
- Nursery schools ask Hong Kong government to maintain in-person classes despite increase in citywide coronavirus cases
For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2022.
