EDB to help schools improve ventilation measures and equipment
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A spokesman for the EDB said, "Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, schools have been taking various disease prevention measures in accordance with the 'Health Protection Measures for Schools' guidelines issued by the EDB, including maintaining good ventilation to ensure a safe school environment. In view of the persistent severity of the epidemic, schools should increase their alertness and conduct comprehensive ventilation assessments for their school premises. Appropriate enhancement measures should be taken as soon as practicable to maintain proper indoor ventilation at schools so as to safeguard the health of students, teachers and school staff."
To assist KGs to conduct ventilation assessments of school premises and adopt proper measures based on the assessment results and recommendations, the EDB will provide a one-off Grant for Procurement of Ventilation Assessment Service and Grant for Procurement of Air Purifiers to Scheme-KGs to alleviate their financial burden. Each KG will receive a one-off grant capped at $15,000 to procure professional service for ventilation assessment of school premises. If the suggested improvement measures could not be completed within a short period of time after the assessment, schools should install air purifiers that comply with relevant standards as soon as possible to improve the schools' indoor ventilation situation. In this regard, KGs with 66 or less students (one whole-day student to be counted as two half-day students) will receive a grant of $20,000 while 67 or more will receive a grant of $35,000.
For DSS schools and caput schools, the EDB will provide each school with a one-off grant capped at $400,000 according to their actual expenses of procuring ventilation assessment services and implementing necessary enhancement measures (such as installation of exhaust fans, procurement of air purifiers or carrying out minor improvement works) in order to fulfil the ventilation requirements as recommended by the registered contractors.
The EDB also advised non-Scheme KGs and private schools in the circular memorandum/letter to conduct ventilation assessments and take appropriate follow-up actions making reference to the related measures.
The EDB has completed ventilation assessments for all aided schools and is following up on the necessary enhancement measures. For government schools, the EDB is carrying out ventilation assessments and relevant works in phases.
The EDB will directly disburse the relevant one-off grants to Scheme-KGs this month. DSS schools and caput schools can submit applications to the EDB based on their actual expenses, and the one-off grant will be disbursed to the schools as early as possible.
Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:03
Issued at HKT 19:03
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