'Online Access Puts Cross-border Students In A Spot'

The Federation of Education Workers has urged the authorities to find ways to help cross-border students who are hampered by a mainland ban on platforms like Google classroom as the new school year is to resume on Tuesday with pupils learning online.

The federation said instead of having individual schools trying to find out the way out for these cross-border students, the Education Bureau (EDB) should coordinate the effort and find a solution.

They said officials can find out which software is appropriate for use on the mainland.

The group polled around 550 teachers across Hong Kong, and over 70 percent said they remain anxious about online classes.

Many noted that their homes aren't suitable for teaching, and that students might not be able to focus.

Vice-chairman Lawrence Tang said the problem can be alleviated as many teachers return to campus and conduct online classes from there.

But Tang said kindergarten teachers often face more challenges, such as the lack of equipment, software and subsidies that primary and secondary schools have.

He urged the EDB to provide more help and subsidies for kindergartens.

The poll also found that only 37 percent of the participants said they will join the government's mass Covid-19 tests, and that was before details of the scheme were announced.

Tang said the EDB could, for instance, allow school authorities to grant official leave to teachers to allow them to join the test scheme, and promote it more widely in schools.

The pro-Beijing federation urged teachers to sign up, saying they have the responsibility to ensure students are safe, and taking the tests can give extra protection. Tang said a wide participation in the scheme can help students return to campus earlier.