Anti- Epidemic Fund & International school change of price changes

In late September, there are private and international schools that have increased their tuition. One school says it increases the tuition because of hiring teachers and purchasing tablets for education electronically. This would allow students to each have a tablet and do not need to wait in line for taking turn to use tablets. For direct subsidy schools, there are less schools considering increasing tuition due to the delay of school development plan because of Covid 19 situation impacts.

Education Bureau would consider the school financial budget, the reason for increase tuition, and make sure the schools have communicated and explain to parents their reasons for increasing tuition. It wants the school to understand and uses 10% from the total tuition amount for tuition waiver and scholarship. This would help students to continue learning without worrying of the possible struggles with family financial difficulty situation.  Private and international school would go through the same process, and if parents have concerns, schools would need to address the concerns and reply to the parents. 

Education Bureau express that since the decision for kindergarten, primary and secondary school in Hong Kong to suspend face to face classes, it shows schools have faced more financial difficulties.  The Anti- Epidemic Fund has offered some allowance to school to relief their financial situation.
In early this month, Education Bureau has sent out mail to school about the allowance details. For schools in English Schools Foundation, international school, and private independent schools, as long with other private primary and secondary schools, each school would receive $40,000 allowance. 

Besides, some schools might have increased the fees for registration and for additional fees, for example, stationary, purchasing practice books, and more. French International School pm class changes their registration fee to zero, and lower the registry fee from HKD2,800 to 2,200. Singapore International School registry fee is HKD$2,200. Canadian International School keep the registry fee as HKD$20,000. The Hong Kong Academy registration fee is remaining as the most expensive at HKD$2,800. The Harbor School registration fee is at HKD$2,500.

How is online distance learning working so far? ESF offer 45% discount on this month’s tuition.

Schools in Hong Kong has been carrying online learning for more than half year since the Covid 19 pandemic started. Lots of schools using online tools to help students for their learning, for example, use Google Classroom or Zoom to join classes. This allows students to learn in the comfort of being at home. Some Schools would match the online distance learning schedule same as the real face to face classes. Teachers would be teaching in live sessions with the help of remote software and video conferences. They can hold classes just as like face to face classes, where they can write on the screen instead of the board, engage students, and ask them questions.

Some students love online distance learning as it offers the flexibility, and they are able to re-watch recorded teaching materials that help them to understand concepts better. They can check up on what missing from their own notes as opposite to in person classes where they only hear it once, and have difficulty catching up.

Distance learning opportunity allows students to be more self-motivated, aware of their learning progress, and be independent. They must take their responsibility seriously to organize their schedule and spend time on their learning. They can try to find the answers themselves or ask help online from their teachers. It also saves students time for commute.

However, there are some students prefer in person classes as they think the learning atmosphere is better. Students are more interactive, and they can work in team, and learning with hand on experiences. They find it tiring to look at the screen for hours, have difficult time to concentrate and catch up. Some students prefer immediate help and response from teachers for their difficulties as they think that help them to earn better grades. They love having classes on campus, which allow them to be social, and hang out with friends. Some students think learning at home get distracted easily as they might not be as disciplined and focus on learning.

English School Foundation has taken measure to offer help during the pandemic situation. For this month, this is the second time ESF had offer measure during this year. ESF has decided to offer 45% discount for this month’s tuition fees.  It understands the financial difficulties that lots of families are facing during these months, as well as emotionally.  ESF hope this measure will be helpful for their students and parents.

Students can decide to join to receive this financial help before September 22. ESF also will provide more help for students and parents that struggle during the pandemic period. As of detail, it is still announced yet. As for returning school dates, some students will be back on September 23, as the rest will follow to return on campus on September 29. ESF has decided to keep the five days of mid-term break for next month.

International Schools follow same schedule to resume class around September 23, then follow by September 29 in two stages

International schools had started online classes in August. Since then it has been questioning on when students would be back on campus for in person classes. Education Bureau has decided that starting from September 23, schools in Hong Kong will resume in person classes in two periods. International schools would be following the similar resume class schedule as other Hong Kong schools.

For the first stage, students with following educational levels would be first back to school:

• Last year of kindergarten
• Begin primary
• Primary Five and Six

For second period, on September 29, following students would be joining to be back on campus:

• Kindergarten of K1 & K2
• Early primary years (2 to 4)
• Secondary

 Although students are set to resume classes in these two periods, but schools still have the flexibility to decide for make-up classes or any activities during September 16 to 22. If schools decide to have these options of starting earlier, they need to make sure class sizes cannot be over 1/6 of the total student numbers of the schools.

 With the pandemic situation improving, it shows to be the suitable time for schools to start getting ready to prepare face to face classes in late September. As for worry of the possible risk of students or faculties get infected when classes resumed, situations would be consulting with Center for Health Protection on case by case to determine whether if the school need to be close.

 Education Bureau is discussing with health authorities to see if guidelines need to be updated. On the side, schools encourage their faculties, students, and parents to take part in the voluntary universal testing scheme that government has offered.

 Schools would still take safety measure and keep desk with 1.5 meters apart, make sure there are enough supply of masks, and hand sanitizer on campus. Some schools are allowing some students to take university exam for next year on September 16 coordinate with the arrangement from Education Bureau.  

 Schools care students' and all their faculties health as main priority. Some schools would have smaller group size of students, take care of students with special education needs, and make up classes for students. For cross border students, while student in Hong Kong would have in person classes, students in China would join live streaming so they can learn at the same time. So far parents’ welcome decision made by education bureau and infection control.

Start new academic year with online learning at home, IBDP ranking/ result, and more

Schools in Hong Kong start the new academic year with their original schools start date. As for international school, school has started in August.  With the Covid 19 situation, students have online education and learn at home. This leads to most students have spent half of their days on the computer.  It has brought out parents’ concern of the eye health of their children, especially some noticed their children nearsighted levels have increased, need new prescription of classes, and reduce their concentration. 

Parents also worry of timing and computer equipment for online learning, as some parents need to go to work, might not be able to stay with their children all the time while they have online learning. The cost of computer equipment are expensive, so it would be a financial stress for some families, and hope government would offer aid.  

Online learning has become more popular due to the pandemic, schools have better experience as to provide learning materials to students and offer support. Schools, teachers, students and their parents are all trying to adapt to this new way of learning. For at home learning, it might sound as there would be more flexibility and freedom for student learning. However, some schools would have more requirements, and run it as close to in person classes as possible. For example, they require students need to be in online classes from 8am to 3pm ,and must wear full uniform. Students need to login in on time and show their face to qualify for attendance, else it considered as no show.

On the other hand, IB result was out last week, due to the pandemic, so IB test was cancelled. Students are graded with schoolwork instead, such as assignment, and regular tests. Although, there is not IB test this year, but the top 5 schools of IBDP ranking stay same.

They are:

•  St. Paul’s Co-educational College
•  German Swiss International School
•  Diocesan Boys’ School
•  King George V School
•  Sha Tin College

Some schools have increased their ranking this year, for example:

•       Sha Tin College
•       Singapore International School (Hong Kong)
•       Canadian International School

Besides, principal of Australian International School has resigned as of family reason that he would like to spend more time with his family back in Australia. He would be leaving by the end of the year.

News: New academic year for International School, starts date and learning

The new academic year will start soon. Lots of parents and students worry of arrangement or whether go back on campus or stay learning at home. The Education Bureau had made the decision to help ease the worry a bit. It had announced that international schools can resume classes with their original start dates. However, due to the pandemic and recent cases increased, school cannot hold in person classes and school activities until further notice.

During the period of starting the new academic year, schools can offer classes in other methods to help students learn, for example online learning, artwork, reading, supplementary work. By having different learning method, it can help and engage students to learn at home, stay in progress and help catch up when they resume in person classes. For example, schools can allow students to be creative to do air work or give out worksheets to assist students learning. Especially for kindergarten students, this allow them to study well and protect kids’ eyes health.

 As for the timing of resume classes on campus, The Education Bureau would consider the pandemic situation and listen to experts ‘opinion for decision making. The Education Bureau would stay in touch with schools, it is still undecided so far, so it will probably announce new arrangement with the pandemic slows down.

 Although students would have online learning from home, but Education Bureau suggested school should keep campus open for take care students that return to school if they are needed to. The school should arrange staffs to be on campus during these times to take care of students that go to school, for general inquiries that assist parents and schoolwork. It is important for staff that return to campus to maintain social distancing as well.

 Schools should consider adequate, and schedule resume classes to school in phrases, and keep great safety measures. The Education Bureau have faith in schools can do well to help students learning at home, especially with the experience how schools handle classes suspended in last few months and learning arrangement due to the pandemic.

 After meeting with Education Bureau, English Schools Foundation had decided to start school on 8/10. On the first week, schools can teach classes online, students are not required to back on campus. It says probably the earliest by 8/17, will begin to resume in person classes starting from higher academic levels of students. Students and parents can look out for news and announcement from their schools.

International school updates on the Covid 19 outbreak, schools open after August 17

Hong Kong has recently increased of Covid 19 cases. Education Bureau decided to suspense classes and allowed students to start summer vacation early. Lots of international schools are worrying as they are just week away from the reopening for new academic year that usually start in August.

Since there are more coronavirus cases in Hong Kong, The Education Bureau say schools would begin classes after August 17, especially if pandemic shows no sign of improvement.  Although they hope can resume classes as early as possible, but they care for students and faculties health and cannot risk with current pandemic situation.

The date of reopen school will be determine base on the update of the Covid 19 situation. The school would get at least two weeks to prepare before the reopening. The Education Bureau will continue to monitor and access situation to determine reopening.

As for more details as of reopening, education officials would discuss all the education factors in the next few weeks in regard of whether would resume classes in phrase, offer half day class and more procedures to help reduce the risks of getting infection.

English Schools Foundation had sent out letter to let parents know they would discuss with Education Bureau and to determine whether they can start online learning so students can learn before reopening in August. Parents are in hope their children can online, as they have paid expensive tuition fees, so having online classes would be a great alternative when cannot have in person classes. Education Bureau would consider the situation case by case and its flexibility for having online classes.

Education Bureau would mostly consider on the outbreak situation, whether the schools have enough protective gears, sanitizer, and the possibility of community outbreak. Schools should improve their teaching methods especially schools are having online education for months.

Updates on school procedure on coronavirus cases increase, suspension of classes and summer vacation starts early

Hong Kong has no coronavirus cases for days, but it has dramatic changes this week. During this week, there has shown increase for coronavirus cases. This sudden increase come to a shock to the public. Hong Kong government has reconsideration and taken additional safety measures to control the coronavirus pandemic. For education aspect, lots of students and parents worry of the exposure to coronavirus.  Students that has confirmed of coronavirus has been separate for 14 days and asked to do coronavirus testing.

On July 10, The Education Bureau had internal meeting immediately to discuss about the changes and plan for classes suspension in schools. It is taking consideration of the COVID 19 situation in hope to prevent schools become the places to spread COVID 19.

After discussion, The Education Bureau has confirmed the decision of all Hong Kong schools, include kindergarten, primary and secondary schools will suspension classes starting next Monday, July 13. It believes this is the best and right decision for schools and students. Besides, this helps to prevent coronavirus spread on campus. School suspension allows school to have the time to clean, sanitize around on campus, which is a great epidemic prevention.

Students would start their summer vacation early. There will be changes to the arrangement for exams and other school activities, schools will consider their situations at school, education bureau opinion for decisions. Schools have the options to decide whether continue primary five exam next week or extend the exam to September and return exam before Oct 20.

For secondary school, schools can hold exams before starting summer vacation. As for Some schools have given out teaching materials and assignments for students for their summer vacation.

Most international schools start dates are around August. Schools in Hong Kong would consider experts opinion, Centre for Health protection and Education Bureau to determine steps for planning with changes, such as graduation, thank you teachers’ dinner, and other activities.

By having the summer vacation starts early allowing less social activities of students around and would be helpful as for control the coronavirus situation in the society.