Special DSE Arrangements To Cater For Close Contacts

Education Secretary Kevin Yeung said on Thursday that officials are trying to work out a set of special arrangements for students who are close contacts of Covid patients, so that they can take next month's Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams in a safe manner.

Speaking on a radio show, Yeung said the arrangements must minimise the infection risk to other students and invigilators, and avoid putting additional pressure on Hong Kong’s Covid situation.

“Our direction is to see whether pupils can take the exams in an isolation facility. But there are limitations, like how many people can take the exam at one time and how many invigilators we need. So we're looking at the feasibility,” Yeung said.

“We first hope to facilitate the close contacts, because their risk is lower. After we look at the situation, can we still let some infected pupils into the venue? But of course, we have to consider the infection risk if we put patients near close contacts, and whether this will pose a risk to invigilators.”

Last year, seven pupils who were close contacts of Covid patients were arranged to take their DSE exams at the Penny’s Bay quarantine facility.