The winter holiday for students from kindergartens, primary and junior schools in Shenzhen will run from Jan. 24 through Feb. 20 for four weeks, according to a notice released by the Municipal Education Bureau on Monday.
Vacation for senior high school students will begin Jan. 31 and end Feb. 20, a total of three weeks.
The spring term for kindergartens, primary, junior and senior high schools across the city will start Feb. 22.
Secondary vocational schools will have a five-week winter holiday, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 27 and will start the new term March 1. Teachers, faculty staff and students in Shenzhen in principle should not leave the city during the break. For special reasons, students and school faculty should make a report to their schools.
The bureau also requires schools to hold a class meeting before the holiday to spread safety knowledge so as to guide students on how to have a safe and healthy holiday.
Meanwhile, schools are required to send messages to parents to remind them to avoid any accidental exposures.
A working team will also be formed to check the safety on campuses and the surrounding areas before the holiday.
Teachers and students are advised to observe personal protection protocols against COVID-19 including wearing masks and washing hands frequently and to reduce mass gatherings.
In order to ensure students have enough time to relax during the break, schools are forbidden from organizing trainings and not allowed to encourage students to attend any kind of training at out-of-campus education organizations.
Instead, schools are encouraged to assign practice and research-based homework and give more homework choices for students, according to the authority.