Education Minister: Going Back to School is Compulsory for Students’ Mental Well-Being

Introverts on hearing this news:

Extroverts:

Parents and education employees:

Whether you like it or not, attending school will not be optional from 2 June 2020 onwards. But daily classes in school is only for graduating cohorts, which refers to students who are  Primary 6, Secondary 4 and 5.

And yes. They’ll need to wear masks or face shields.

Non-graduating students will alternate weekly between home-based learning and classes in school.

Student care centres will also open from June 2.

Although Physical Education will resume, co-curricular activities (CCAs) will continue to be suspended.

Only half of the students in JC and Millenia Institute students will be back in school at any one time. Teachers will have to ensure that all students, especially graduating cohorts, have more than adequate face-to-face time.

RIP for all teachers who have basically double the work.

Institute of Technical Education students will also rotate weekly between online and on-campus lessons, but Polytechnic students will continue attending lectures and tutorials online. They will still return to campus for practical and lab sessions.

Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Technology and Design will continue having lectures and tutorials online, while the other four universities are on break.

Education Minister Ong Ke Yung Replied To Top 3 FAQ

Lots of people have had concerns regarding the opening of school. Well, Minister Ong has replied on Facebook with the top three questions. Take note, this only relates to the younger cohort (primary and secondary schools) from the answers.

1. Need wear mask for whole day meh?

Yes. Face shields will be distributed to preschool and primary school students in Term 3. Teachers will help them get used to masks/shields, and in special cases, there will be flexibility.

2. I have work. Childcare how ah?

Try your best.

(Yes, he really said that. The original sentence: “I hope parents and families can try your best to work out a suitable arrangement.”)

Companies should allow employees to telecommute as much as possible. If that’s not possible, approach your child’s school. They can extend limited care to young students on home-based learning but without childcare arrangements.

3. This isn’t safe. Can continue HBL instead?

The authorities will do their best to keep schools safe. There will be health screenings for everyone entering school, cohortisation of students, good hygiene practices and safe distancing.

And according to home, they cannot make school voluntary unless there are special concerns like medical conditions.

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First, it’s likely COVID-19 will last for more than a year. They can’t allow children to stay at home since the impact on their socio-emotional and mental well-being will be serious. Having brought community transmission to a low and controlled level, they should resume some form of interaction, reclaim a sense of normalcy, while taking many precautions.

Reader Bao: How about the socio-emotional and mental well-being of adults-

Second, a voluntary system segregates students into those whose families are able to provide care at home, and those who can’t, which is not good for morale. It’s also not sustainable for teachers to juggle more work.

Lastly, keeping schools closed doesn’t guarantee being COVID-19 free. A large proportion of transmission to children has been from their family members, who have to go to work.

Other countries are also making plans to re-open schools, even though their community cases are even higher.

By working together, exercising personal responsibility, plus maintaining high levels of personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness, our children can return to school in a safe manner.

Reader Bao: Wait, but this response seems to apply to adults as well. I need to see my girlfriend how?

It does?

Reader Bao: We simply cannot keep couples at home apart for so long. The impact on their socio-emotional and mental well-being will be serious. Having brought community transmission to a low and controlled level, we should resume some form of interaction, reclaim a sense of normalcy, while taking many precautions.

Woah, you’re right. Then again, Minister Ong is the Education Minister and not the Minister for Mental Health.

Imagine the double whammy of being a teacher and also single. Or those single or divorced parents. Tough times, tough times. I don’t have a solution, so here’s a salute instead.

Let’s just say that every decision made isn’t going to make everyone happy. Unless you sell ice-cream.

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