School's out: Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li announces that all schools will suspend classes.

All schools will suspend classes for nine days from Saturday as a precaution amid the spread of atypical pneumonia.

Secretary for Education & Manpower Arthur Li said all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, special schools and Vocational Training Council day course classes will be suspended until April 6.

"The decision is based on the fact that more atypical pneumonia cases have been confirmed in our community," Professor Li said. "Also, we are aware of parents' concern over the issue. To alleviate their anxiety, we have decided to suspend classes."

However, he reiterated that a blanket suspension of classes will not reduce the chances of contracting the virus, adding that all infected students contracted the disease outside their schools or through contact with either their relatives or other patients.

The bureau urges all students to, as far as possible, stay home during the class suspension period. If they need to leave home, they should avoid crowded places to evade infection.

To provide support to working parents, the bureau suggests that school campuses remain open and maintain a certain degree of operation.

The bureau also advises that schools arrange their teaching staff to be on duty to take care of those students lacking home care.

Schools should continue to observe the series of preventive measures the bureau announced earlier. They include asking students and staff who have contact with infected relatives or patients to stay away from school for seven days.

The bureau also asks schools to close for seven days once an infected case is confirmed, and to carry out effective disinfectant measures on a daily basis.

"We will closely monitor the development of the issue and will make further announcements some time next week should there be an extension of the class suspension period," Prof Li added.

The class suspension period will be deducted from the 90 days in the School Holiday List to avoid any adverse effect to students' learning.

The bureau has set out detailed guidelines to remind schools of arrangements during class suspension and guidelines to parents.

Major measures include:

* Setting up a contingency team to deal with the issue;

* Arranging staff to be on duty to handle school affairs and parents' enquiries, and to take care of those pupils who are without a caretaker at home;

* Formulating precautionary measures to be taken during suspension of classes, such as cleansing and disinfection;

* Setting up an effective communication mechanism and a notification mechanism to report confirmed atypical pneumonia cases involving staff, students, their relatives or any person they have contacted;

* Arranging learning materials for pupils during the suspension, such as supplementary exercise and reading resources;

* Drawing up guidelines for parents on the measures of preventing the spread of atypical pneumonia;

* Advising parents not to let their children go out without a cause and not to travel to high-risk places so as to avoid infection, but to take note of their learning progress and health condition at home;

* Informing parents of the arrangements for internal examinations, tests, activities due to suspension of classes;

* Ensuring that every precaution is taken and cleaning the premises on a daily basis for public examinations to be held as scheduled; and,

* Preparing for class resumption, such as cleaning and disinfecting their school premises.

If schools need any support during the class suspension period, they can contact their respective Regional Education Offices. For enquiries, the public can call the bureau's hotline 2892 2352.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Examinations & Assessment Authority announced that the Advanced Level Examination and Certificate of Education Examination will be held at schools on schedule. The examination timetable and centres will remain unchanged.

Precautionary measures will be taken at the schools. Unless teachers are medically unfit, they must report to the schools and supervise the examinations.

For enquiries, please call 2239 2765 or 2239 2752.