FOBISIA COVID-19 IMPACT REPORT At its 2 April 2020 Meeting, the FOBISIA Board requested a report on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Federation. On 23 April 2020, FOBISIA HQ distributed a survey to its 81 Affiliate Members and 76 Member Schools. With a global health emergency announced by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020 due to the spread of coronavirus infections and deaths worldwide, FOBISIA Member Schools and HQ were plunged into the position of having to respond quickly to a developing crisis, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and their school communities. Almost immediately, and on the dawn of Chinese New Year, which significantly mobilises people across Asia and beyond, Member School communities were faced with quarantine and travel restrictions, forced repatriations and evacuations, border and school closures, the commencement of online learning, and changes to student assessment. In just over three months, schools are now facing the lifting of restrictions at varying levels, the risk of second and third waves of infection, and the challenge of mobilising staff in readiness for the next academic year, with continued
uncertainty around recruitment
upgraded its video-conferencing
and student enrolments, all in
facilities, which has improved its
the shadow of a global economic
capacity to communicate with the
recession.
membership via the provision of webinars and virtual meetings.
Member Schools and HQ have had to initiate crisis management and
Member Schools have faced closures
make tough decisions on a range of
and cite the main parent concerns as
levels. Member School communities
school fees, followed by lost learning
have rallied together to support one
hours, exam cancellations, decisions
another during this unprecedented
other schools are making and lost
emergency. FOBISIA has supported
ECA hours, among others. The
and assisted Member Schools to
overwhelming concern is around
connect across the region and share
the wellbeing of staff, students and
experiences, good practice, and
the school community is isolation,
coordinate on crisis management.
followed by financial security,
FOBISIA HQ has also taken the
missing significant family events,
opportunity to collaborate with its
mourning loved ones and medical
global counterparts including BSME,
concerns, among others. Heads
EARCOS, COBIS, LAHC, and
have faced a range of challenges
“ The overwhelming concern is around
the wellbeing of staff, students and the school community is isolation, followed by financial security, missing significant family events, mourning loved ones and medical concerns... � AoBSO. From the onset of the
from managing the expectations of
pandemic, FOBISIA HQ moved
colleagues and parents, assessment,
quickly to provide regular
boarding, access to information
updates to schools on the status
and dealing with uncertainty,
of FOBISIA events and school
managing the ability to switch off
closures. Although the majority of
personally, and recruitment of
FOBISIA student enrichment and
teachers and students, among others.
CPD events have been cancelled,
The majority of Member Schools
Member Schools have managed
anticipated a drop in enrollments
to deliver full refunds for the
but not school fees next year.
majority of them. FOBISIA HQ negotiated with its games provider,
While a smaller majority of Member
Sports Camps Australia (SCA), to
Schools did not anticipate changes
achieve 90% deposit refunds for its Member Schools for the Under 13s Games that were cancelled. HQ has
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