There will be no competitive sports, extracurricular activities in schools this year which includes assemblies

There will be no organised or competitive sports, extracurricular activities, school assemblies, concerts, excursions and prize-giving/awards ceremonies or any other special celebrations in schools this year.

In a circular, Acting Permanent Secretary for Education, Susan Kiran confirms that schools will have to make arrangements to cancel programs if any are planned.

Kiran says to factor in the new term dates, the curriculum has been realigned for this academic year to ensure consistency in coverage and the curriculum will now focus on concepts and teachers will have to plan their lessons to accommodate this change. She says details on the realigned curriculum will be provided later. The Ministry has also revealed that there should be no assessment for students within the first few weeks of their return to school.

It has also been confirmed that the Year 12 and 13 external examinations will take place in the last two weeks of Term 3 while everyone else will have school based assessments.

The Ministry of Education adds that there should be no extra classes.

Teachers have been told to ensure that they regularly wash their hands and refrain from touching their face and teachers should inculcate the same behaviour in their students.

In addition to this, Kiran says school heads have to identify a designated drop-off and pick-up area for students and heads of schools have to ensure that students wait for their parent pickup in sheltered open spaces instead of crowding them in one room.

Kiran says many families will be facing hardship due to prevailing economic situation and therefore Heads and teachers have to be extra vigilant and conscious of students mental and physical health and well-being.

She says a number of students will take time to readjust and should not be penalised for slow progress in learning.

The Ministry further says that students who may have lost their textbooks, exercise books, stationary and uniforms during the extended break must not be humiliated but dealt with in a sensitive and practical manner.

Furthermore, Kiran confirms that boarding students should not be allowed to leave the school premises unless approved by the school heads and no student should be permitted into a dormitory which they are not an occupant of.

She says all students in boarding schools must have routine temperature and symptom check.