SINGAPORE: Presbyterian High and Westwood Secondary schools reopened on Tuesday, one week after term began for all schools.

The two schools were closed as a precautionary measure after two teachers - one from each school - tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.

Though students are back, school life has yet to return to normal. The flag-raising ceremony is performed in front of an empty yard as morning assembly is cancelled.

There are temperature checks twice a day, fewer staff meetings and no co-curricular activities this week - all in a bid to reduce the risk of H1N1 infection.

Lim Yan Hock, principal of Presbyterian High School, said: "Our students, during recess, will be seated according to the allocated desks and tables so that we will know who is sitting in which position. Even in the classrooms, there is a fixed seating plan for all students... (and also in) the labs or the workshops."

Though Presbyterian High was shut last week, lessons continued at home via e-learning, with teachers monitoring the students' progress by phone, email and SMS.

"It's not a holiday; it's quite tough, because we need to catch up with our work and we need to try to manage our time well, because the work the teacher has given us is more than the school work," said Secondary One student Mutbita Ou-Udomying.

Though students and staff returning from overseas no longer need to take a seven-day leave of absence, the Education Ministry advises those who have been in close contact with H1N1-positive people to stay at home for seven days and monitor their health.

This has been the case at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior), where a Primary 2 pupil was confirmed with H1N1 on Saturday. As a precautionary measure, his class has been issued with a leave of absence until Thursday. Three teachers and other students who were in close contact with him also had to stay at home.

- CNA/ir