Advice for UK Education Institutions on Covid-19 impact in East Asia
Summary
At the British Council, the health and safety of all our visitors, staff and the communities in which we operate is our top priority. We support and cooperate with all local government agencies to put all necessary measures in place to ensure the continued well-being of all with whom we engage in the course of our operations.
This post is to keep UK institutions updated on disruptions across the East Asia region caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
For travel advice, please refer to FCO updates, and we would encourage institutions who are considering travelling to sign up for alerts - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also strongly encourage visiting local government health websites to stay abreast of the prevailing health advisory and precautionary measures in any country.
For IELTS test arrangements as a result of Novel Coronavirus precautions, please see: https://www.ielts.org/news/2020/changes-to-ielts-test-arrangements-in-some-locations-due-to-novel-coronavirus.
We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Please find current information by country/territory as per below:
Key Updates
South Korea: All schools and kindergartens in the capital area have returned to full remote learning from 26 August to 11 September 2020. Many universities are also turning back to the remote classes for the second semester.
Thailand: Thailand extends Emergency Decree to the end of September. Schools and universities are able to open for face-to-face teaching although some universities might offer blended learning instead.
China: All schools and universities will open as usual for the coming September.
Vietnam: Universities are now busy recruiting students for the new academic year, based on students’ scores of the national high school graduation examination which has just been announced.
China
Updated 28 August
China’s MoE rolls out plans to open schools and universities as usual for the coming September
China's Ministry of Education (MoE) has required efforts to restore normal teaching at all schools and universities across the country with effective anti-epidemic measures in place. A circular, issued by the office of the MOE's leading group for Covid-19 responses, asked local education authorities as well as colleges and universities to make plans in preparation for the reopening of schools and universities for the upcoming autumn semester. According to the circular, containment measures at some key sites such as the schools' classrooms, canteens, dormitories, and laboratories should be strengthened, and epidemic-related information should be reported daily even if there are no relevant cases.
Earlier this week, the MoE and the National Health Commission also issued a guideline on Covid-19 control and prevention for all universities, primary schools and kindergartens, to facilitate their reopening for the coming September. Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools are aiming to open on around 1 September. Universities will reopen on a staggered schedule in the coming weeks. 49 ministerial level universities (out of 75) welcomed their first batches of students who were checking in or registering from mid-August to early September.
According to the guidelines, all teachers, students and staff from low-risk areas must present a green health code to be able to return to school, those from medium-risk or high-risk areas will need to have a negative result in a nucleic acid test in the week before their return to campuses. University staff and students will not be required to wear masks on campuses. But students and staff entering campuses should have their body temperature checked and their health code scanned.
The guideline also said kindergarten children will not have to wear masks, but their teachers and other staff are required to do so. Parents who are dropping off or picking up children will not be allowed to enter kindergartens or nurseries. Students in primary and middle schools will need to carry medical face masks, but those in low-risk areas will not have to wear them, adding that primary and middle schools will be put under relatively closed management, with no entry for visitors, in a bid to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
It should be noted that China is still restricting entry to most foreign citizens, and international students and staff who are currently overseas are not yet allowed to return to the country without special permission. Schools and universities may submit applications for key staff to return which are considered on a case-by-case basis.
China’s National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA) has rescheduled the College English Test (CET 4 and 6) from 13 June to two separate time slots on 11 July and 19 September. Some provincial-level education departments will offer tests on both of these dates, while others have chosen to only offer tests in September. This might impact graduating students, as these tests are graduation requirements for students on all degree courses.
Comment by British Council International Education Services
UK institutions working with Chinese partners or recruiting Chinese students should be aware of current study arrangements in the country. For TNE providers, close discussions with partners are encouraged to support preparations for reopening of campuses and continued delivery of short term solutions including online delivery where campuses remain closed.
Sources:
http://www.moe.gov.cn/fbh/live/2020/52320/sfcl/
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/14/WS5f363023a310834817260642.html
Hong Kong
Updated 26 August
Public Events and Social Distancing
Hong Kong has tightened the social distancing curbs again after resurgence of new infection cases since 09 July. The government has now relaxed a few of the measures as follows, taking effect from Friday 28 August:
- Dine-in hours in restaurants will be extended to 21.00
- Certain scheduled premises can re-open, including cinemas and beauty parlours
- Some outdoor fitness centres will reopen, but indoor gyms will not
- Mask-wearing is no longer mandatory while exercising outside or when in country parks.
All other measures, such as public gatherings and dine-in numbers limited to two people and mandatory mask wearing in the majority of public places, remain in place.
Compulsory 14-day quarantine measure
The 14-day quarantine measure will be extended to 07 July for travellers from mainland China, Macau and Taiwan, and to 18 September for arrivals from overseas. Non-residents flying from other foreign countries are still not permitted to enter the city indefinitely.
Schools
Due to the surge in the number of local cases, the Education Bureau has requested local schools to close from next Monday 13 July. Previously, classes in Hong Kong were first suspended for four months from early February, with a phased resumption beginning at the end of May. International schools had finished this term and closed for Summer break since last week.
IB Results 2020
Despite class suspensions and cancellation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) written exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong students achieved a 97.9 per cent pass rate with an average IB score of 36.31. The average score outperformed other candidates around the world by 6.41 points according to the IB office. Among 2,324 HK candidates from 33 schools, 641 of them attained 40 – 45 points, including 23 top scorers from schools such as the English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest international school group in HK, Diocesan Boys’ School, Victoria Shanghai Academy and the German Swiss International School. Although the total number of top scorers this year was 11 fewer than last year, Hong Kong continues to be one of the main sources of IB top scorers globally with around 16% of top scorers coming from Hong Kong both this year and in 2019.
HKDSE Exam 2020
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exam results were released for 50,809 candidates, including 45,257day school candidates on 22 July. The total number of candidates decreased by 3.7% from last year. In 2020, a total of 18,572 day school candidates (i.e. prospective UG students to the UK) met the entry criteria (achieved Level 3 or above) for local universities, compared to last year’s 19,676 candidates. This represents 41% of candidates, which is about 1.2% fewer than last year’s figure.
There are only 15,000 publicly funded places are available via the JUPAS system (the Hong Kong university application system). Those that miss out will either look to study abroad or enter expensive self-funded programmes. 30,658 candidates of day schools (71.2% of candidates) achieved level 2 or above in five subjects, which is the minimum required to apply for civil service posts or enter sub-degree programmes.
In addition, it is also reported that this year’s numbers of candidates reached at a record low since the HKDSE exams were introduced in 2012, owing to the city’s shrinking secondary student population in recent years. Next, the DSE candidates are expecting to receive offers from their chosen universities (JUPAS results) on 13 August.
Sources:
Number of Hong Kong students with perfect scores in International Baccalaureate drops by nearly a third after grading system change amid pandemic, SCMP, 07.07.2020
2020 HKDSE Results, HKEAA, 21.07.2020
Competition for Hong Kong university spots dips as 1,100 fewer entrance exam takers meet minimum requirements, South China Morning Post, 22.07.2020
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202008/25/P2020082500609.htm, HKGOV, 25.8.2020
Local Universities
Local publicly funded universities have suspended face-to-face teaching and switched to online for the Spring Term of the 2019/20. Many final exams have been set to be conducted online. Local student unions have urged universities to ensure assessments be fair and accessible to all students, in particular, those who are from vulnerable families (given the difficulties of online learning). Some options e.g. ‘late withdrawal’ and ‘pass-fail’ options have been commonly used amongst local universities. The latter means students would not receive letter grades and have the grades to be calculated towards their overall GPA. Currently, it has been offered by the University of Hong Kong, University of Science and Technology, and Education University.
According to local universities’ announcements regarding the arrangements for the Summer Term on their websites, with the situation of Covid-19 in HK being improved gradually, some local universities set to arrange face-to-face make-up classes for the summer. Meanwhile, due to social-distancing and travel restrictions imposed by the government, they plan to arrange online teaching at the same time for the new academic year to cater for latecomers from the mainland or abroad.
Source:
British Council Operations
In line with the HK government’s new social-distancing rules, The British Council will be closed to the general public. For the most up-to-date information on our services, please visit our website: www.britishcouncil.hk/en/covid-19 . We are of course happy to hold meetings with the UK Education sector by means of online calls.
Travel restrictions in summary
Non-Hong Kong residents will be denied entry into HK
HK residents and valid HK visa holders must be self-isolated for 14 days after returning home
Transit flight services at Hong Kong International Airport resumed from 01 June
Sources:
Hong Kong third wave: city expected to snap 12-day streak of 100-plus new infections, but death toll continues to climb, SCMP, 03.08.2020
Centre for Health Protection (CHP), HKSAR
Macau
Updated 28 August
No major updates.
Contact: Anna Lee anna.lee@britishcouncil.org.hk or Karen Hsu karen.hsu@britishcouncil.org.hk
Indonesia
Updated 28 August
Strict social restrictions and distancing remain in place to counter the spread of Covid-19. Jakarta has extended its transitional period from large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) after failing to slow down the daily increase in COVID-19 cases. Jakarta has experienced and recorded an alarming rate of new COVID-19 clusters over the past weeks. The Governor of Jakarta is considering stopping the gradual re-opening of the economy as the Covid-19 cases continue to increase at a fast rate.
Sources:
Schools and Universities
The government plans to roll out a new education scheme that will simplify the curriculum and address existing hindrances to remote learning, which has been in place because of the COVID-19 crisis. The Education and Culture Minister has said that the streamlined scheme could entail the reallocation of school operational aid (BOS) to internet packages for students and teachers.
The ministry has only allowed the phased reopening of schools located in so-called "green zones" or areas regarded by the government as having a low risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Sources:
State and private universities plan to open in August and continue with classes either online or in person based on government directives closer to the dates of opening.
Travel requirements
The national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to open direct flights to Denpasar, Bali, from the United States, France and India as part of initiatives to boost the country’s tourism that has been battered by the pandemic.
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II plans to increase the number of available flight slots and normalize its operational hours in July, as it seeks to spur the recovery of the aviation industry that has been severely impacted by the ongoing health crisis.
There has been a significant increase in the number of passengers for domestic and international flights, after the government relaxed restrictions on air travel. A recently issued Transportation Ministry circular allowed an increase in the number of passengers to 70 percent of the aircraft capacity, up from the previous 50 percent.
Public events
Large scale public gatherings are not allowed. All businesses being allowed a conditional re-opening are subject to strict social distancing measures as per government requirements.
British Council Activity
British Council staff continue to work from home.
Contact: Saman Imtiaz, saman.imtiaz@britishcouncil.org.my
Japan
Updated 28 August
Latest news
Across the country the cumulative totals now to 65,769 which is 1.6 times more than the number reported early this month. The death toll stays as to 39,902, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February. The death toll stayed at 1,241.
The number of infected people is rising not only in Tokyo but in neighbouring prefectures like Kanagawa and Saitama but for this month there were also increase in Osaka and Aichi prefectures.
Tokyo still has its alert for the pandemic at the highest of the four levels, meaning “infections are spreading.” But the medical provision system is now also at its highest of the four levels, meaning “medical system needs to be strengthened”
There are some statements in the newspaper that the second infection wave which struck Japan from July to August is now coming to decline, but the medical system is expected to experience their difficult time with the increasing critically ill patients.
On 19 June, Japan completely lifted its request for people not to travel across prefectural lines, with the move met by a return of passengers to airports and train stations.
As of July 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has issued an infectious disease information level of Level 3 (travel advisory) to 146 countries and territories around the world (travel advisory) and Level 2 (travel advisory) to all countries and territories, except for Level 3 countries and territories.
In light of this situation, the Ministry of Education (MEXT)announced towards Japanese students who have been planning to study abroad to reconsider their trip and not to go to countries and regions that have a level 3 infectious disease risk information, as well as to study in countries and regions that have a level 2 infectious disease risk information rating.
Public Events
On August 22, the Economic Revitalization Minister announced that the government will postpone the relaxation of restrictions on the event scheduled for August 1 until the end of August. The decision was made after listening to the opinions of a subcommittee of experts on measures to combat the new coronavirus infection, which has seen an increase in the number of people infected in the Tokyo metropolitan area and other urban areas.
Schools and Universities
The Ministry of Education (MEXT) announced on 21st July that all the students who were planning to go study abroad should align to the safety information of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and recommended to refrain from going out of the country. Most of the countries including UK, USA, Canada and even NZ are listed in Level 3, among the highest-ranking countries. The Japanese Universities are making their decision aligned to this Government’s announcement and all the official exchange programs are being pended. The official scholarships are also being pended and students who were to receive the government funded scholarships are kept waiting.
British Council Activities
We are keen to support your continued engagement with Japan and are exploring alternative ways to profile institutions and to help you connect with prospective students and their families.
A Pre-Departure Information webinar was held in July to inform the Japanese students about current UK university status. We received attendees from all over Japan and there is still the same level of interest to UK as before Covid 19. But considering the government announcement, some good number of students seem to be thinking of postponing their study to next year.
Contact
Tomoko Kawakita, Head of Education, British Council Japan - tomoko.kawakita@britishcouncil.or.jp
Malaysia
Updated 28 August
Government Response
The Malaysian government introduced the Recovery Movement Control Order from 10 June till 31 August. The RMCO allowed additional relaxation of the movement control order. Inter-state travel is allowed except for areas where there is still risk. The additional relaxation for economic and business sectors is currently being allowed only under strict conditions and enforcement of stringent health standard operating procedures.
A government decision and announcement on the status of the end or continuation of the Recovery Movement Control Order is expected as it is previously scheduled to end on 31 August. However, an official statement has not been released as yet.
Sources:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/598700/cmco-end%C2%A0replaced-rmco-until-aug-31
Public Events
The restricted movement order remains in place for large-scale events. Health authorities in Malaysia have advised against organising major public events. However, activities that do not draw large gatherings or close contact are now allowed under certain conditions.
Schools and Universities
The Ministry of Higher Education has announced that higher education institutions may re-open by October 2020. As per the Ministry’s announcement 30% of private higher education institutions could start returning to campuses from July onwards. Students at public universities are now allowed to return to campuses as per a staggered plan for announced categories of students. International students coming to Malaysia now allowed to enter and join their institutions.
Malaysian students who are offer holders or must sit for exams at international institutions around the world are now allowed to leave the country with due documentation for immigration purposes.
Sources:
Schools opened with operating procedures such as maximum 20 students to a class, students seated at a distance from each other and other social distancing measures in place on campus. The Ministry of Education released the amended school academic calendar on 23 June for the current year. There is a reduction in the number of mid-semester holidays and the year-end holidays – the calendar has been amended to support teaching and learning for the current year.
Sources:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/602962/back-school
Travel Restrictions
The Malaysian government has announced that international students will now be allowed to enter Malaysia and resume their studies at Malaysian institutions. Malaysian offer holder students or those waiting to sit for exams at international universities can now do so provided they have the required documentation for immigration clearances.
Source:
Returning Malaysians and non-citizens permitted to enter the country will once more be made to undergo mandatory two-week quarantine at specified quarantine centres. The government has decided to revoke the allowance for those entering the country to self-quarantine at home.
Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/535396
British Council Activities
British Council staff are mostly working from home. The slight relaxation of the movement control order has allowed a few selected teams to be in the office with strict social distancing measures in place.
Contact: Saman Imtiaz, saman.imtiaz@britishcouncil.org.my
Singapore
Updated 28 August
Singapore is now in Phase two of the three-phased approach for the relaxation of the ‘circuit-breaker’ and related social distancing measures in the post Covid-19 environment.
Phase One: Phase 1 featured resumption of selected services and the staggered re-opening of schools.
Phase Two:
Singapore is now in Phase 2 which began on 19 June. Since 29 June onwards, all students have begun attending daily face-to-face lessons. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) had also gradually increased the number of students back on campus for face-to-face learning, and are preparing for the commencement of the new academic year.
Most businesses have resumed, although working from home is strongly encouraged wherever possible. All safe management practices remain in place. Social gatherings are permitted in groups of five. This Phase is expected to continue for 2-3 months, before the final Phase 3.
Phase Three: Phase three will feature limited size gatherings, seniors being allowed to resume day-to day activities under measures of physical distancing among other practices of risk mitigation.
Source:
The Ministry of Health has assessed that there are several countries/regions where the virus situation is well under control and the risk of importation is low. Border measures have been updated, and the changes will be with effect from 1 September 2020, for all travellers entering or departing Singapore.
Current border restrictions will be lifted to allow the entry of visitors from Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand into Singapore. Travellers entering Singapore and who have remained in either Brunei Darussalam or New Zealand in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their entry will not be required to serve a Stay-Home-Notice (SHN). Instead, they will undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival at the airport and only be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore after receiving a negative test result.
For travellers arriving from selected countries/regions designated as ‘low risk’, the SHN duration will be shortened from the current 14 days to 7 days. Furthermore, these travellers will be permitted to serve the SHN at their place of residence. These countries/regions are Australia (excluding Victoria State), Macao, Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The Covid-19 test will continue to be administered before the end of the 7-day SHN.
Source:
https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/updates-on-border-and-community-measures
Educational institutions
The Institutes of Higher Learning have been observing the following approaches since June:
· Polytechnic Institutions: lectures continue to be delivered online; students are allowed on campus for only lab and practical work.
· Institutes of Technical Education: students rotate weekly between online and on-campus learning.
Sources:
https://www.moe.gov.sg/addressing-top-covid-19-concerns
The six autonomous Universities in Singapore have offered an additional 2000 places this year, some of which would go to Singaporean students whose overseas study plans have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and to polytechnic diploma holders who had intended to join the workforce, but are now opting to study because of the limited job market.
Universities are currently preparing for the new academic year, and online orientation programmes have begun.
The focus is largely on employability of new graduates who would soon be entering the workforce. The SG United Traineeship Programme aims to create up to 21,000 trainee opportunities for graduating cohorts of the ITE, polytechnics and universities.
Source: https://www.wsg.gov.sg/SGUnitedTraineeships-Trainees.html
The IHLs are also offering new courses and professional qualifications to boost graduates’ employability by enhancing their skills and versatility. The ITE has entered into a three-year partnership with LinkedIn to teach students how to brand and market themselves to potential employers.
Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/help-for-ite-students-to-market-themselves
The advisory for students has been updated to allow travel for studies for students pursuing academic qualification overseas, and where distance-learning is not offered as an option by the education institution. Overseas studies should be of at least one academic year, for courses which require physical presence in the foreign educational institution, and which will lead to attainment of academic qualifications. Existing students who are completing such academic programs (i.e. balance duration of less than an academic year) are included. Students below the age of 18 may be accompanied by an adult. Mature students may travel overseas with their dependents who will be residing with them for the duration of their studies.
Source: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/updates-on-border-and-community-measures
Public events
Non-essential public gatherings remain prohibited. There is some relaxation for activities like worship, weddings with a limit to number of people being five or ten for different activities as per government rules.
Source:
The Ministry of Health in Singapore provides a regularly updated status report on the daily Covid-19 situation at https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19
Contact: Saman Imtiaz, saman.imtiaz@britishcouncil.org.my
South Korea
Updated on 26 August
The country now has another severe COVID-19 outbreak with 3,175 new cases identified across the nation over the past 12 days, mostly traced to evangelical churches and an anti-government march on 15 August. The nationwide total rose to almost 18,000, with 310 deaths.
The country already imposed the Level 2 Social Distancing Scheme in all regions, effective on 23 August. Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including clubs, PC cafes, and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.[1]
Schools
All schools and kindergartens in the capital area, including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, will return to full remote learning from 26 August to 11 September 2020. The emergency policy does not apply to high school seniors due to applications for early admission and College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). The rest of the region's policy remains the same, with attendance capped at 1/3 in elementary and middle schools and 2/3 in high schools.[2]
The CSAT will take place on 3 December as scheduled with strict preemptive measures such as installing a screen fence.[3]
Higher Education
Many universities have planned to provide a blended approach with more face-to-face classes in the second semester. However, they are now turning back to the remote classes when the second semester begins next week.[4]
Sources:
KCDC (Korean government’s official website for Covid-19)
[1] New virus cases stay under 300 for 2nd day; church-linked, untraceable cases still at large, Yonhap News, 25 August 2020
[2] Schools in greater Seoul area ordered to shift to online until Sept. 11 amid virus resurgence, Korean Times, 25 August 2020
[3] 100-day countdown for Suneung begins, Korean Herald, 25 August 2020
[4] 대학생들, 술집은 가도 수업은 온라인? 2학기도 비대면 간다, Joongang, 24 August 2020
Contact: Heather Eom sunhyun.eom@britishcouncil.org
Taiwan
Updated 27 August
Taiwan’s cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus upon 27 Aug, leaving the total number of cases at 487 since the pandemic began at the end of December, according to the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) (source).
To keep social distancing of 1.5M and to wear the masks when entering to restaurant and public transportations are requested by the CDC. For information on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Taiwan, please visit the Taiwan Centres for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.tw/En
Taiwan announces eight public venues where mask-wearing is compulsory.
Most public large events like exhibition or show are currently open but various events and activities are requested to wearing the masks, and some will still maintain temperature measures and alcohol spraying when entering the venue.
Schools and Universities
The Central Epidemic Command Center announced since March that students and teachers at senior and junior high schools as well as elementary schools around Taiwan. Ministry of Education announced international students travel opens to the low risk countries.
New term for Secondary school level starts on Monday 31 August. The new term for Higher Education starts on 14 Sept.
The Ministry of Education Allows the Return of Graduating Students from Outside 19 Countries/Regions to the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Study from July 22
For information on the MoE of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Taiwan, please visit the News Updates on Ministry of Education Taiwan website at https://english.moe.gov.tw/lp-117-1.html
Travel Restrictions in summary
Taiwan to allow foreign nationals to apply for non-tourist entry
All eligible passengers entering Taiwan must undergo 14 days of home quarantine
CECC to fine non-mask wearers if serious COVID-19 outbreak occurs
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said on Wednesday that in the case of a serious outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan, local governments will be compelled to fine people who refuse to wear face masks in certain public spaces. The CECC will impose the measure if the pandemic worsens in Taiwan, or if domestic cases with no known origin appear in the country, it said.Taiwan removes South Korea from COVID-19 'low-to-moderate' risk list
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday removed South Korea from its list of countries from which business travellers can apply for shorter quarantine periods upon arrival in Taiwan, citing a recent surge in cases there over the past two weeks. A wave of COVID-19 cases began recently in Seoul and has since spread across South Korea, and the authorities there have said that they have not passed the peak of the outbreak, the CECC said.Filipina tests positive for COVID-19 after leaving Taiwan
A woman from the Philippines tested positive for COVID-19 after leaving Taiwan recently, but has shown no symptoms of the disease so far, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday. Information about the case was sent from Philippine health authorities to Taiwan via the National IHR Focal Point, a communication channel set up under the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations, the CECC said.
Sources:
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3981125
https://english.moe.gov.tw/cp-117-24173-6539f-1.html
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008020010
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008010015
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008260024
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008260015
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202008260012
https://english.moe.gov.tw/lp-117-1.html
Contact: Diane Hsu, diane.hsu@britishcouncil.org.tw
Thailand
Updated 26 August
Thailand has extended an emergency decree imposed from 26 March to the end of September. Permission of international inbound flights is being reviewed by the government to welcome international tourists to Thailand. The plan will be done in 3 phases, starting from low-risk countries. This means the government is currently looking at border relaxation.
Schools, universities and public events
On 7 April 2020, with the approval from the cabinet, Ministry of Education announced schools in Thailand to defer the start of the first semester of academic year 2020 from 16 May to 1 July 2020. On 8 May, the Ministry announced that it plans for the first semester to be run on 1 July – 13 November 2020, and the second semester on 1 December 2020 – 9 April 2021. This will result in 17-day and 37-day school breaks, respectively.
1 July is the first date schools and universities are reopened. The situation is being closely monitored by the government to prevent the second wave of the outbreak.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation's recent announcement on 12 August, universities are allowed to open for face-to-face teaching. However, some universities might offer blended learning. Activities that have many people gathering together, e.g. orientation, should still be avoided.
Key information including the term dates of key universities are on the IES site https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/east-asia-covid-19-update-%E2%80%93-26-june-2020
British Council’s operation
Face to face English classes have been resumed since 1 July 2020. The current situation for IELTS is that paper-based and computer-delivered tests are running as scheduled. We have re-designed our test layouts to ensure that test takers and staff maintain a one metre separation at all times. For more information please visit https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/exam/covid-19-updates
The International Education Services Team is still in operation and will be able to help give advice and respond to queries from UK institutions, agents, and stakeholders.
Contact: Uraiwan Samolee, uraiwan.samolee@britishcouncil.or.th
Vietnam
Updated: 28 August
In the second wave of Covid-19 in some cities, the Government and health sectors have proactively increased tracing and testing measures, helping to bring the situation under control. However, people are still required to wear face masks at public places and when using public transport means, and limit unnecessary gatherings.
Schools are preparing for the new school year which will begin in the first week of September. Pupils in some cities are required to wear face masks and maintain a distance when attending face-to-face classes. Both schools and universities are required to prepare alternative online teaching solutions if facing serious waves of Covid-19 during the school year.
Universities are now busy recruiting students for the new academic year, based on students’ scores of the national high school graduation examination which has just been announced. Nearly 1 million Vietnamese high-school students sat for that examination in early August, and the rest of more than 26,000 who are mostly living in the Covid-19 epicentres, will sit for the exam in early September.
Source:
https://vietnamnews.vn/society/771696/pm-asks-for-vigilance-against-covid-19.html
Contact: Senior Education Services Manager, Lien Ta, lien.ta@britishcouncil.org.vn