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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, today (June 23) on arrangements for primary schools, kindergartens, kindergartens cum child care centres, special schools and secondary schools after attending the meeting of the Steering Committee of Influenza Pandemic:
"After consulting the Department of Health (DH), the Education Bureau has decided that all classes of primary schools, kindergartens, kindergartens cum child care centres as well as special schools which were suspended will not be resumed in this school year.
For secondary schools, apart from those which have their classes suspended, all other secondary schools can advance their summer break from tomorrow if they have finished their final examinations.
As classes of all primary schools will not be resumed in this school year, schools can conduct the Primary Five second-term examination in late June or early July based on DH's guidelines. The Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test can be conducted as scheduled on July 14. The 2009 Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) results will be released on July 7 and Secondary One registration will be held on July 9 and 10 as scheduled. The Education Bureau will issue letters to all schools concerned on details of the arrangements.
Although classes of kindergartens, kindergartens cum child care centres will not be resumed during the remainder of the school year, the government will continue to provide subsidy under the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme and calculation will be based on the total number of students as at June 11, i.e. the day before class suspension.
I would take this opportunity to appeal to all schools, both secondary and primary, to put in place precautionary measures against HSI with reference to DH's guidelines in organising any activities both within or outside schools.กจ
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:01
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