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Written by: Deng Yinglin
2021-03-08 08:00
Last update date: 2021-03-08 08:00
The DSE exam will start in late April. However, in early February, the Shau Kei Wan Government High School had been diagnosed with two students and required quarantine at all levels.
Many secondary school principals bluntly said that they have not received the government’s announcement of the emergency plan for the HKDSE so far, and it is difficult to grasp the quarantine guidelines. In addition, due to the epidemic this year, the four core subjects of the HKDSE will be tried out in the original school and the district examination venues. They are worried in case there are candidates. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the whole school's sixth form students may miss the exam at the same time. It is hoped that the government will provide a unified standard for the reference of the candidates and the schools that have a copy of the examination room.
"Hong Kong 01" since the outbreak of the epidemic in Shaoguan, from the beginning of February to the beginning of March, the Bureau of Examination and Assessment and the Centre for Health Protection have twice inquired about the assessment arrangements for the HKDSE.
The Center for Protection replied in early March that the two students who were diagnosed with Shaoguan's illness had been on the same exam for several days. Since the school examination room could not be ruled out as the source of infection, full-level quarantine should be arranged for caution.
At present, the school has to suspend classes for 14 days if there is a confirmed case. If there are students in the school during the HKDSE period, should the examination room be suspended?
Will there be compulsory quarantine for candidates in the same field?
The Appraisal Bureau stated that it was making inquiries with the Protection Center regarding the compulsory quarantine or testing situation.
The protection center only said that it would investigate and follow the case and act according to the results of the investigation.
Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School (Photo from Home-School Association website)
Two students from Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School were diagnosed in early February. All sixth form students and invigilators who participated in the mock exam (Mock Exam) must be quarantined.
The original school's principal was worried about the two people being infected with the epidemic or causing no examination for all levels
The incident has aroused the concern of the academic community. The diploma examination will start next month. If a person is diagnosed, will candidates in the same examination room be quarantined?
Can the examination room continue to be used?
A principal stated in anonymity that this year the HKEAA will try out the "original school and regional examination venues" arrangement and shorten the number of days between examinations for each subject. He is worried that if a candidate is diagnosed, the school's sixth form students may miss the exam at the same time.
Fang Yiliang, chairman of the North District Secondary School Principals’ Association, revealed that the education sector had reported relevant concerns to the Education Bureau and the HKEAA, and understood that the situation of each confirmed case might be different, but hoped that the government would unify the guidelines for schools and students to refer to. The contingency plan for the DSE exam has not been announced, and the guidelines are not available.
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Liu Zhenhong, chairman of the Subsidized Secondary School Council and head of Le Shantang Yu Jinqing Secondary School, said bluntly that the Shaoguan incident has made all schools in Hong Kong very nervous. "The practice of full-level quarantine is a bit strange. How will the examination be handled? Do you have to stop the examination room for 14 days? Do you need to be tested and quarantined? Or do you have to wait until the test report is negative before you can continue the test? I hope that there will be clear guidelines for everyone."
The Appraisal Bureau stated that it is learning from the Centre for Health Protection about how to define close contacts and conduct compulsory quarantine or testing if a confirmed case occurs in the test site.
(Information picture/Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
Li Jianwen, the principal of the secondary school: timely updating of the examination guidelines can alleviate students' worries
Li Jianwen, Principal of Wu Shaomei Middle School of the Catholic Charity Association, also believes that the government has not provided clear and specific examination guidelines for about a month since the Shaoguan incident. The situation is not ideal. The academic community can only refer to last year’s experience: "The earlier the guidelines, the more specific Good, and it needs to be updated in a timely manner to reduce students’ worries and anxiety.”
The HKDSE will start in April, and the government has not announced the emergency plan for those diagnosed in the examination room until early March.
(Profile picture)
Examination and Appraisal Bureau: It is learning from the Center for Protection about the criteria for quarantine and suspension of examination venues. The
Examination and Evaluation Bureau announced on January 22 this year "Preventive measures and contingency arrangements for the 2021 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in examination venues". It mentioned that if a confirmed case is found during the examination, The Center for Health Protection will conduct epidemiological investigations and contact tracing to confirm whether there are close or other contacts.
And the schools in the testing venues must use bleach for disinfection.
As for how to define close contacts, the criteria for compulsory quarantine or testing, whether the test site needs to be suspended for 14 days, etc.?
The Appraisal Bureau stated that it is seeking information from the Centre for Health Protection.
The Department of Health explained for the full-level quarantine of Shaozhong: The two people had a short time of onset and took the same exam for several days.
"Hong Kong 01" once asked the Department of Health twice on the emergency arrangements of the DSE examination room in early February and early March, including if there were more than If one person is diagnosed, do candidates who are on the same site and sharing toilets need to be quarantined for 14 days?
Do the test venues involved need to be suspended?
The Center for Health Protection said in February that it will conduct epidemiological investigations and contact tracing of new coronary pneumonia cases, and make corresponding recommendations and actions based on the results of the investigation.
When he was questioned again in early March, the response explained that during the epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the center, it was learned that two students in Shaozhong had a similar time of onset, and they had exams at the same venue in the school for several days.
After conducting a risk assessment, the school examination venue could not be ruled out as the source of infection.
For the sake of caution, the center lists relevant students and staff as close contacts and arranges them to stay in the quarantine center to prevent the potential risk of further spread of the virus.
▼The epidemic has repeated social distancing measures for a week starting from March 4▼
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