school reopening – Beijing Kids

International Students Warned of Disciplinary Action if They Return to Beijing

Admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 07:00:30 +0000

As Beijing’s students and teachers remain in limbo with no word yet on when the spring semester will commence, it is becoming increasingly apparent that universities are making good on their threat of disciplining students should they return before an official start date has been announced.

While teachers and students at Beijing’s international schools have also been advised not to return from their domestic or international hideouts, universities have gone one step further, making a return to the capital an offense punishable by disciplinary action, including withdrawal of scholarships and even dismissal.

The ramping up of measures is likely in response to the growing number of COVID-19 “imported cases” to China from people returning from oversees, with 13 of the last 19 Beijing infections flying in from abroad. Those returning from South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan are now required to conduct mandatory 14-day quarantine, as reported by Global Times.

Students at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and Tsinghua University (whose iconic old gate is pictured at top) have both received warnings in the past week that anyone who returns to Beijing will face disciplinary measures, though neither specified what exactly they may be.

A message from BLCU faculty announcing that students should wait for an official notice prior to their return to Beijing

A warning to BLCU students saying that stipends and honors may be affected should they not remain outside of Beijing

The warnings come in light of four students who returned to Nanjing University Aeronautics and Astronautics in early March without informing the school. The students, from Pakistan, Brazil, Ecuador, and Russia, were subsequently named in an official release that made the rounds on WeChat, with each of them incurring punishments that ranged from serious warnings, cancelation of stipends, and refusal of scholarship and master’s degree applications.

Tsinghua University’s statement, released Mar 7 as a comprehensive Q&A via their official WeChat account, outlines how “Due to the fact that the COVID-19 epidemic still in an uncertain stage, it is impossible for the university to provide an estimated university open date at this point. The delaying of the university open date and the eventual decision of the new semester start date will be made in accordance with requirements by the Chinese Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipal Government.”

The notice goes on to say that “Tsinghua University international students found to have returned to Beijing without prior approval will face serious disciplinary action by the University which may affect their studies,” adding students must inform the university of their whereabouts should they move to a different city or country. Additionally, those currently on campus must apply in advance to exit and enter the campus and any students who exit or enter the campus without prior approval will be subject to “serious disciplinary action.”

For other students, the opposite also holds true, with warnings from their schools that if they are currently in Beijing they are not allowed to leave the country. Yasmin Dangor, a student at the Beijing Institute of Fashion and Technology, says, “Initially, we were to inform our school of travel plans but as of two weeks ago we were told if we are in Beijing we aren’t allowed to leave the country, and if we are out of the country, we could not return until we have been told we can.”

Dangor goes on to say that she’s generally satisfied with the way that her school has handled the situation, asking students to report their daily health readings and location via a designated mini-app before 10am, “a requirement passed by the government.” She notes that of the half of the 50 or so students in her class remain in Beijing: “A handful left when the virus started and have not returned, while a few others left to go home as it was winter vacation and they’ve just extended their time at home. Our semester was meant to start today and we’ve started it through online classes.”

Much like the directive from Beijing’s international schools for students and teachers to stay away, no official government statement has been made public as to legal ramifications facing returning students. However, these heavy-handed measures indicate that schools are being encouraged from above to do everything they can to dissuade students from returning before opening dates are confirmed.

If you’re unsure whether these rules are applicable to you, we suggest that you contact your school prior to heading back to the capital. It’s one thing to be quarantined upon your return, it’s another to have to quarantine without the prospect of continuing to your studies once you’ve done your 14 days.

READ: Schools Advise Beijing Teachers, Students Abroad to Stay Away For Now

Images: SCMP, WeChat

Schools to Stagger Opening by Grades: Education Ministry

Admin — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 05:00:12 +0000

China’s Ministry of Education once again said yesterday (Feb 28) that time has not come to announce a return date for schools, though they hinted on what a return might look like.

In a directive issued yesterday, the ministry said that schools should stagger their opening by grade (错时错峰开学). This appears to be a method for minimizing the risk of an outbreak at any one school.

They also said a coordinated approach should be used so that all grades in each province/city start at the same time. The maneuver appears to be addressing the likely accusations of unfair treatment in the highly competitive world of school academics.

So far to our knowledge, only one province on the mainland has announced a formal opening date for schools: Guizhou Province announced last week that high school seniors and middle school 9th graders will begin school on March 16, with the start dates for the remaining grades to be determined later.

While no rationale was offered for why those grades would start first, those are two critical grades in the Chinese education system for the crucial high school and college entrance examinations, and thus may be given top priority.

In the meantime, the ministry urged schools to continue to strengthen their online teaching approaches.

In regards to new start dates, the ministry once again was vague, stating “In principle, schools will not open until the outbreak has been basically controlled”. (原则上疫情没有得到基本控制前不开学). No specific definition of what “basically controlled” means was offered.

However, they did say that schools will not be given the green light to open until basic prevention and control methods have been established. “Unless the health security of all members of the school community can be effectively guaranteed, schools will not be allowed to open.”

The directive also pointed out that all offline afterschool training organizations also need approval from the city or provincial education departments before re-opening.

We’ll keep you updated each and every time we hear anything.

Photo: unsplash

Stringent Standards Set as Conditions for K-12 School Reopening

Admin — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:48:33 +0000

Masks while teaching. No large-scale events. No outsiders on campus. Temporary isolation areas for possible virus sufferers. These are just some of the 25 requirements the State Council has set forth for Beijing (and the nation at large) for creating a safe environment for all when it’s time to resume school.

First things first – no date has been announced yet for the new semester (so if that’s what you’re looking for here, read no further).

With that out of the way, below are the 25 requirements for K-12 schools that were announced Tuesday by the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Against Covid-19.

Also, if you are searching for the original Chinese, you’ll find the document from the State Council’s website here (a different document was also circulated for preschools here).

Before School Opens

1. Ensure the health of students, teachers and staff by conducting and submitting daily heath reports to supervising authorities.

2. Provide all staff training on prevention and control systems, personal protection, disinfection, and the like.

3. Thoroughly disinfect the entire campus, as well as ventilate all classrooms.

4. Assure all returning teachers, staff and students have conducted a 14-day self-quarantine in the local area before returning to campus.

5. Assure an adequate supply of hand soap, hand sanitizer, masks, gloves and other prevention and control materials.

6. Set up a temporary isolation area for any person who shows signs of fever or other symptoms related to Covid-19.

7. Formulate clear emergency plans for epidemic prevention and control, including training and drills, with the school principal holding top-line responsibility.

After School Opens

8. Keep abreast of the health of staff and students on a daily basis, inspect students and staff in the morning and the afternoon, implement a daily reporting system, and report results to the supervising department.

9. Properly store and mark disinfectant to avoid accidental ingestion or burns. When disinfection is carried out, the operator shall take effective protective measures.

10. Every area on campus (such as classrooms, dorms, libraries, laboratories, sporting facilities, cafeterias, teachers’ offices and washrooms) should be ventilated with fresh air at least three times a day for no less than 30 minutes each time. Ventilate with open windows or mechanical ventilation as much as possible during class breaks. If air conditioning is used, ensure safe air supply, sufficient fresh air input, and that all exhaust is vented directly to the outdoors.

11. Strengthen surface cleaning and the disinfection of common objects. Classrooms, dormitories, libraries, cafeterias and other places should be kept clean, tidy, with a disinfection routine recorded every day, with particular attention paid to high-frequency contact surfaces such as door handles, faucets, stair handrails and fitness equipment.

12. Strengthen the cleaning and disinfection of dining equipment. Tableware should be disinfected after every use. Students should be encouraged to bring their own tableware. Tableware should be sterilized using heat or a chlorine solution after each use.

13. Bathroom fixtures should be regularly disinfected with a chlorine solution and rinsed thoroughly afterward.

14. Ensure that hand-washing facilities are functioning properly and are equipped with soap or hand sanitizer, in hands-free dispensers when possible. There should be a least one washbasin or 0.6m long sink for every 40-45 persons.

15. Strengthen the sorting and disposal of garbage, ensuring prompt disposal and regularly disinfecting containers.

16. Teachers are advised to wear masks when teaching.

17. Implement strict hand hygiene measures for teaching staff and students. Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and running water or hand sanitizer before meals; before and after trips to the toilet; after contact with garbage; after going outdoor; after using sports equipment; after using school computers or other public equipment; after contact with animals; or after touching any possibly contaminated goods.

18. Strengthen the monitoring of absences due to illness. Keep records of absenteeism, early retirement and leave requests. Follow up with staff and students who are absent due to illness.

19. Large group activities should not be held.

20. Promote personal hygiene and protection among staff, students and parents. Demonstrate the correct way to wash hands and cultivate good health habits such as using tissues when coughing or sneezing.

Emergency Treatment of Suspected Virus Sufferers

21. If a staff member develops a fever, has a dry cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea or other symptoms, they should immediately alert their superior and promptly report to a designated hospital. Public transportation should be avoided and a proper medical-grade or higher mask should be worn en route.

22. If a student develops a fever, has a dry cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea or other symptoms, they should promptly alert the school and take appropriate measures.

23. Any suspected case of Covid-19 among staff or students should be reported immediately to the District Disease Prevention and Control Department, and cooperate with the relevant departments to manage all close contacts of the suspected case.

24. All of those who are living and studying with the affected person should be informed of risks and should seek medical advice promptly if symptoms such as fever or dry cough arise.

25. Designate a staff member to be responsible for monitoring the health of staff or students while under quarantine.

Photos: Unsplash