SINGAPORE  — The National University of Singapore (NUS) will lift a zoning policy from Dec 6 following a recent review of the arrangement.  

The policy, which was introduced in June, is meant to minimise inter-mingling on campus during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It was met with unhappiness by students, who called the move impractical and inconvenient, with over 600, as of Oct 28, having signed a petition for its removal .  

In circulars to students on Saturday (Oct 31) seen by TODAY, NUS said that from Nov 2, students will be able to return to campus on any day, regardless of whether they have classes but they must still only go to their allocated zones.  

The zoning restrictions, including those in hostels, will then be fully lifted on Dec 6, which is the start of the university vacation period. 

NUS said that it was implementing the change in view of the low number of community cases in recent weeks. 

It added that the university’s administration had arrived at this “evidence-based decision after examining campus traffic data” and taking into consideration the views of student leaders from National University of Singapore Students' Union and the student leadership in hostels, faculty clubs and other student organisations.  

The zoning policy divided the university into five zones with staff members and students designated to zones based on their faculties and living arrangements.  

Students said that the policy was inconvenient with students having limited food choices and having to make longer detours to reach neutral zones that can be used by all students, among other issues. 

In one of the circular to students, NUS also urged staff and students to avoid patronising canteens during the lunchtime peak of 12pm to 1pm, if possible, and to use a new app developed by the university which will notify staff and students of the occupancy load of the canteens.