Students can play among themselves in groups of up to 5, CCA curbs eased as more school activities resume

SINGAPORE — Schools are allowing their students to resume play with their classmates in groups of up to five as long as they keep their masks on, while co-curricular activities (CCAs) can be now held at external venues.

In a Facebook post, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing outlined activities that may resume with Covid-19-related safety rules in place from Tuesday (Jan 4), the first day of the academic year for Kindergarten 1, Primary 1 and secondary school students.

Mr Chan said that as the schools reopen, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is “continually evaluating how we can enrich our students’ learning experiences” during the pandemic.

One activity to resume is students playing among themselves in groups of up to five for all primary, secondary school, junior college and Millennia Institute students.

Mr Chan also said that in-person CCAs for primary schools can resume without needing to split according to classes or levels, if the total number of students, staff members, service providers and volunteers is capped at 50 individuals.

Moreover, these CCAs may also be held at external venues.

Learning journeys — an initiative under the National Education programme — can be carried out as long as intermingling with the public is minimised for participating students in secondary school, junior colleges and the Millennia Institute.

The flag-raising assembly, another activity that was the norm for students before the pandemic, has also resumed for Pri 6 students and their older counterparts in secondary school, junior colleges and the Millennia Institute.

Also resuming are self-help group tuition and Dyslexia Association of Singapore Literacy programmes for students from the hosting school.

Mr Chan added that MOE also hopes to resume the National School Games and Singapore Youth Festival later in the year.

“May the gradual resumption of activities contribute towards a richer and more fulfilling school year for our students.”

In a statement in November, MOE said that activities that may be expected to resume at secondary schools, junior colleges and the Millennia Institute in January included flag-raising ceremonies, assemblies, learning journeys, CCAs, National School Games and the Singapore Youth Festival.