Most students of the 22 international schools under the English Schools Foundation will resume classes on May 25, but only half of the student body will be attending classes on any given day.

The ESF announced yesterday that students will split their time between learning online and in school after classes resume. Senior and secondary students will start classes three days earlier on May 22.

"We will only have half of the students attend on any given day, in order to ensure that we have the space in our schools to maintain social distancing," Belinda Greer, CEO of the foundation, wrote in a letter to parents.

"For example, your child could spend one day in school learning, then spend the next day at home," she said.

Under the concept dubbed "100 percent of students learning, 50 percent in school," pupils will use online learning tools at home to continue study when they are not in school.

While specific plans may differ among schools, all students are expected to spend the full day in school when it is their turn to go to class. This full-day arrangement is still waiting for approval from the government, according to the foundation.

ESF guaranteed that students will be seated at least a meter apart, but they will still be able to move around.

Lunch and break periods will also be properly staggered and supervised, ESF said.

In addition, students will have their temperature checked on arrival at school, and staff will ask all parents to fill in travel and health declarations before classes resume.

ESF also said it has not ruled out the possibility of holding graduation ceremonies, considering how important they are to children and families.

"All we have really wanted is to have our students back in school," Greer said.

"It does now feel that the day we have been long dreaming of is finally approaching."

With primary and secondary schools spread throughout Hong Kong, ESF is the largest English-medium international education group in the SAR.

Kevin Yeung

'Dream' restart closer as ESF to split attendance