There’s finally light at the end of the tunnel for Beijing students. Over the weekend the Beijing Municipal Education Commission announced the official starting dates for the 2020-2021 fall semester for schools across the city.
The commission sets official policy for all public schools, though private and international schools are also required to abide by their policies.
The announced dates of course presume there is no major new outbreak of Covid-19. Here they are:
Aug 29: First grade in elementary school, junior high Grades 1 and 3 (7th and 9th grades); and all grades in high school
Sep 1: Elementary school Grades 5 and 6 and junior high Grade 2 (8th grade)
Sep 7: Elementary school Grades 2-4
Sep 8: Upper classes in preschool/kindergarten
Sep 11: First year of preschool/kindergarten
Universities are cleared to reopen gradually after August 15, provided that they get approval from the Beijing Educational System Epidemic Prevention and Control Work Leading Group.
For now, off-campus training centers are subject to evaluation and written approval from the Municipal Education Commission before they can resume their regular classes.
International schools across the city have already issued return to school announcements to their students, and have been reminded to not travel outside of Beijing 14 days prior to their first day of school. Should the student need to leave Beijing during this time, they must show a negative Covid-19 test result before being allowed back on campus.
KEEP READING: Junior Year, 2020: I’ve Never Faced a ‘Back to School’ Like This Before
Photo: Unsplash
