Timeline for Schools to Return to Normalcy with COVID-19 Endemic Status in Singapore

Dr Shahira Abdullah asked the Minister for Education as Singapore moves towards a COVID-19 endemic status and with the important need to strengthen students' relationships and social interactions for their holistic mental wellness and development (a) what is the expected timeline the Ministry has to further open up schools to normalcy; and (b) what are the possible changes that the schools may make by the end of the year.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises that Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) and other interpersonal activities are important for student development and overall well-being. MOE has taken a calibrated approach to resume student activities, with reference to the national posture.

In-person CCAs and enrichment activities at the secondary-level and above, including our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), resumed in August this year with the relevant safe management measures in place. With the tightening of the community safe management measures in the Stabilisation Phase from 27 September, MOE had suspended in-person CCAs and enrichment activities for secondary and junior college/Millenia Institute students. We hope to resume these activities when it is safe for our students to do so.

For primary school students who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, we have taken a more cautious approach, with in-person CCAs still suspended. We are monitoring the situation carefully and will decide at an appropriate juncture when to resume in-person CCAs and activities in a safe manner, complemented by stringent safe management and surveillance measures.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his answer. May I also ask what are the plans in future for regular testing of the children so that all these activities can open up faster?

Mr Speaker, Sir, our testing for staff and children will follow the national posture. Suffice to say that we understand the importance of resuming CCAs for our students as soon as possible, as much as possible, because this is all part of their overall development beyond the academic subjects that they do in school. A large part of the school curriculum also involves what we call the CCAs, which help our children to build up their socio-emotional resilience and well-being. So, we will try to do that as much as possible, as soon as possible, in line with the national posture.