Proposal to Minimise Home-based Learning and Allow Vaccinated Secondary Schools Students to Mix and Receive Support amidst COVID-19 Endemic

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education in view of most students from secondary schools and above having received their vaccination, whether home-based learning can be minimised to allow students to mix among their peers and receive support and friendship which are critical for youths amidst an endemic.

MOE’s approach has been to keep schools safe so that they can remain open as far as possible. We recognise home-based learning (HBL) cannot be a full substitute for the school-based learning experience. If HBL is prolonged, it hampers learning and reduces opportunities for students to build relationships with their peers.

With high vaccination rates among students from Secondary schools and above, we can minimise the need to place them on HBL. Throughout the Stabilisation Phase which began on 27 September 2021, school-based learning continued for older students in Secondary schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institute under strict safe management measures (SMMs).

As we transit to living with COVID-19 and community cases stabilise, we plan to resume more activities for students at Secondary school levels and above with appropriate safeguards. This will include co-curricular activities (CCAs) and larger school events. Our hope is that by next year, important inter-school experiences for our students such as the National School Games could also be held, subject to the prevailing national situation.