Return To Schools Worldwide - What is Happening?

New Zealand schools opened. Pioneers. Showed the world it can be done.

Now Singapore Schools are preparing to reopen. I have friends who work as teachers in schools such as the American School.

The teachers go back four days before the pupils. Why? To prepare themselves with knowledge of the new regulations and systems to cope. And prepare the environment for the returning pupils - moving desks and chairs and so on.

What happens to the pupils to safe distance? It is not just marking out spaces in queues for meals. In fact the cafeterias are closed. Each pupil brings their own snacks and drinks, including water.

The pupils are taught in bubbles or separated groups, marked by colours for easy identification by the pupil members and the teachers. At play time the pupils stay in the same group.

Advantages Of School Bubbles

Previous exclusive cliques can be broken up. Large groups bullying somebody can be separated. 

Friendships

Everyone can choose a best friend.

Lifelong friendships may be formed. Increased co-operation. After two weeks, teachers can change the people in a bubble.

Streaming Helping Teachers & Pupils

In Singapore the bubbles are streamed so the teachers can set the level of teaching to the ability of the whole group.

A British male former university lecturer comments: "Very Singaporean, streaming."

A British female teacher says, "That used to be the case in the UK - until comprehensives came in."

The British males says: "Social anthropologists will love this. It could have a lasting impact, friends for life. Is the sex balanced in co-ed schools. Or separated by sex and at playtime for different play styles?  Are the bubbles structured to take into account bubble size, gender balance, intelligence .... It is a classic optimisation problems. There are algorithms in applied mathematics for this type of problem solving."

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8584803/Victoria-shuts-schools-brings-remote-learning-bid-control-coronavirus-outbreak.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed

https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/school-terms-and-important-dates

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is British born and educated, trained as a teacher in the UK, and has taught children and adults as a home tutor and in schools in the UK and Singapore.

She is a language evaluator and grammarian at clubs of Toastmasters International and a member of five clubs, one in the UK, three based in Singapore (now in August 20220 online) and one purely only club, Singapore International Online toastmasters.

She is immediate past president of Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters, based in Singapore and now online. Please join BHA on the first Wednesday of every month (6.30 for 7 pm until 9.30 pm Singapore time. Also the third Saturday afternoon each month. Meetings this year Wednesday August 5th evening 6.30 for 7 pm (same time in Malaysia and China) and include Saturday August 15th Thomas Chen on Rhetorical Devices.