教育局局長楊潤雄表示，鑑於過去兩天2019冠狀病毒病本地感染個案急升，教育局決定全港中小學、幼稚園下星期一起可提早放暑假，需要進行重要考試的級別則可按學校實際情況作出安排。
楊潤雄今日會見傳媒時說，復課至今學校採取的防疫措施見成效，至今並沒有源自學校的感染個案，但部分學校有教職員或家長感染，考慮到家長擔憂，而距離暑假只餘約一星期，相信對學習影響可以接受，經通盤考慮，並諮詢專家意見後作出有關決定。
對於公布倉促，學校或未能為學生放暑假而即時準備好，例如有雜項仍需於校內完成，學校可安排學生於稍後時間分批回校處理有關事務。而學校在原定暑假開始前，應繼續保持校舍開放，安排教職員當值，照顧在家中缺乏成人看管而需要回校的學生。
考慮到小五呈分試涉及中一派位，原定在下星期進行呈分試的學校可照常舉行呈分試才開始暑假；學校也可選擇將呈分試延至9月進行，如作此安排，學校向教育局遞交呈分試成績的日期可延至10月20日。
中學方面，考慮到中三學生選科，中四、中五學生需預備公開考試的需要，學校可如常舉行中三至中五級別的考試才放暑假。
至於中一入學前香港學科測驗會如期7月14日舉行，但因應疫情最新發展，各中學可自行決定參加與否，若決定退出，最遲須於7月13日中午12時前通知教育局。
楊潤雄說，根據中學文憑考試的經驗，考試本身是靜態活動，學生之間不會有太多接觸，是安全活動。校方也須採取適當防疫措施，每天只可安排半日考試。他強調，學校本身感染風險並不高，但停課可減少學生在社區上流動，對社會抗疫有幫助，也可令家長安心。
至於補課安排，楊潤雄說，中四、中五級別學生要準備文憑試，學校仍可安排進行補課，相信一至兩個級別進行補課問題不大。至於在校內舉行的畢業禮、謝師宴等活動，校方可按實際情況決定，需要時教育局可按個別情況給予意見。
In light of the recent COVID-19 situation, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung today announced that all secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens could advance the beginning of their summer holiday to Monday.
Mr Yeung told reporters that the decision was made after thorough consideration and consultation with experts.
“In view of the exponential growth of confirmed COVID-19 local cases over the past two days and the Government's announcement on further tightening social distancing measures with effect from tomorrow, as well as parent concerns as reflected by school principals, the Education Bureau, after thorough consideration and consultation with experts, has decided that all secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens could advance the beginning of their summer holiday to next Monday.”
He noted that special arrangements would be made for students with important examinations scheduled for next week.
“Primary schools could continue with their scheduled examinations in the following week - which means Primary 5 students - if they choose to. On the other hand, they could also choose to defer the examination to September, and the deadline for submission of the P5 Internal Assessment will be extended to October 20.
“Examinations for Secondary 3 to 5 students could continue on next week, in view of the need to prepare for the selection of subjects for Secondary 3 students and for the preparation of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination for Secondary 4 and 5 students.
“The Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test will continue on July 14. As this is not a compulsory test, schools which choose not to take the test should notify the Education Bureau before noon on July 13.”
The education chief urged schools to take the necessary precautionary measures, including temperature checks, mask-wearing, asking students to wash their hands and to keep a distance between them during the examinations.
Mr Yeung acknowledged that teachers may not be ready for the advancement of the summer holiday and suggested they arrange for students to come back to school in batches to settle any outstanding matters.
School premises should remain open until the original summer holiday start date to take care of students in need, he added.
