by Monica Pfister
Following extended school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic this spring, top-performing education systems are taking different approaches to support student learning and wellbeing over the summer. The Canadian province of Ontario has released a Summer Learning Plan, backed by funding more than double prior levels, that includes both traditional summer programming, such as summer classes, and new initiatives, such as opportunities to participate in virtual volunteer work. The plan was developed based on feedback from families and recognition that coronavirus-related school closures have increased summer learning loss. It will expand access to summer programming for more students than ever in the province’s history. In Singapore, schools have reopened during a month-long school vacation to provide in-person support for small priority groups of students. These include students in graduating cohorts, who need to prepare for national exams; students who need additional support from teachers, such as those who have struggled during distance learning; and students who need access to school facilities for hands-on learning in subjects like art or home economics. In Hong Kong, individual schools are deciding whether to extend the school year into the summer for all students, with some schools planning to provide up to three weeks of extra learning time.
Learn more about initiatives top performers are implementing in response to the coronavirus pandemic in our archive of International Education News.
