'A distance of XNUMX meters remains the norm'
The XNUMX meter distance rules remain in force in secondary, secondary vocational and higher education. A letter from Minister Hugo de Jonge yesterday suggested that there are new exceptions, but that is not the case, according to the Ministry of Education.
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A spokesman for the Ministry of Education (OCW) explains the passage in the letter of Minister Hugo de Jonge it only says 'because the exception had yet to be formally recorded'. De Jonge writes:
“In addition, there are also persons who provide or participate in an educational activity in secondary education, vocational education or higher education, insofar as these activities cannot be performed in an appropriate manner with due observance of the safe distance, and for the professional activities for which pupils or students are trained, with the exception of the safe distance standard. ”
Newspaper translated this morning The Telegraph the official pincer constructions in the head: 'Not a meter and a half for teacher and student if there is no other way'. The newspaper writes that education staff in secondary education, MBO, HBO and at the university do not have to keep a meter and a half away 'if they otherwise cannot do their work' in an appropriate manner '.
Confusion
The confusion lies in the fact that it had already been agreed for each educational sector before the summer what 'appropriate way' means. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and educational organizations have wondered extensively: when can situations arise where a teacher or instructor really cannot teach properly at a distance of five feet? The conclusion was that only practical subjects qualify for an exception to the one and a half meter rule.
Tamar Van Gelder, AOb-mbo manager: “Imagine that a student is going to work with a welding machine for the first time, then as a teacher you have to be right on top of it to guarantee safety. This is just one of the examples, especially vocational education has many. If a meter and a half is not possible, there are all kinds of alternative safety measures. ”
De Jonge's letter contains no news, according to Van Gelder. "Nothing changes." She emphasizes that the meter and a half remains the norm between pupils and staff in secondary education and between students and staff in secondary vocational education, higher vocational education and university education. Except in teaching situations in practical subjects where it is no different. OCW spokesperson Michiel Hendrikx: "It is not wrong in the Telegraaf, but they should have brought this a while ago."
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