MOE enhances safe management measures for all schools including external activity suspension from May 8

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced a set of enhanced safe management measures for all schools that will take effect from May 8 to May 30.

The announcement follows a recent rise in community cases in Singapore and tightened COVID-19 rules announced on May 4.

“The latest measures aim to reduce intermingling of students across schools/institutions and minimise external activities, while ensuring that teaching and learning continue,” MOE said in a press release.

The measures will be implemented across all MOE schools including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, special education schools, junior colleges, Millennia Institute and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).

All schools will implement an exam-style classroom seating and group sizes across activities will be reduced from eight to five persons.

Similarly, the overall capacity for all activities including in-person classes and lectures at IHLs will be capped at a maximum of 50 persons. Larger classes and lectures will be conducted online.

Students will continue their internships and work attachments while adhering to existing safe management measures at their attachment sites.

The ongoing polytechnic graduation ceremonies will also be converted to virtual ceremonies starting from May 8.

The upcoming 2021 Direct School Admissions exercise, polytechnic and ITE Early Admissions Exercise are set to proceed but will be conducted largely via electronic means.

School-based co-curricular activities and after-school care arrangements may continue, subject to tightened measures. The school-based mid-year assessments as well as the GCE O- and A-Level mother tongue examinations will also continue as planned.

However, all external CCAs and activities including the remaining National School Games competitions will be suspended until further notice. Activities conducted in public spaces including learning journeys will also be suspended.

MOE also encouraged all Private Education Institutions (PEIs) to follow the tightened national safe management measures. PEIs may also take reference from the plans for schools and IHLs should they wish to adopt similar measures.

All schools and institutions will also implement TraceTogether-only SafeEntry from May 17.

All students are required to have their TraceTogether token or app throughout the school day to help facilitate with contact tracing. Staff and visitors are also required to check in via the app or token to be allowed entry.

MOE said that the ministry will continue monitoring the situation and will work with schools and institutions to ensure the implementation of necessary safe management measures.

The ministry also urged all students and staff to play their part by practising good personal hygiene and adhering to all measures.