Great concerns about full classes in January
Despite the lockdown, groups of students will go back to school on Monday January 4 and afterwards. The unrest about this is growing. The AOb urges the cabinet to take the concerns seriously. One thing has become clear today: primary schools really won't reopen until January 18.
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While some groups of students in secondary education have been 'normally' received at school since Monday, January 4, while a large number of primary schools have received their eighth-graders from Monday want to teach at school, concern among educators is growing. “There is a lot of unrest due to the increase in the number of infections, the new variant, whether there is still room in hospitals and the lack of clarity about this”, says AObdriver Jelmer Evers. He emphasizes: "Health and safety are paramount."
Practical education
For example, practical training continues despite the lockdown Just by, as does secondary special education. The 'practice-oriented' education in VMBO must also take place at school. Just like all lessons for exam students and the school exams for students in the pre-exam year.
Teaching in full classes is not possible at this time
De AOb has just held consultations with Education Minister Arie Slob and has emphatically brought to the attention the concerns about safety that exist. “The cabinet has decided that students in practical education and final exam students will be taught at school as usual, but it is sometimes physically impossible to keep a distance of five feet. Teaching in full classes is not possible at this time, ”says Evers. “Not even when it comes to vulnerable groups or graduating students. We believe that other solutions should be found for these students: for example, spread students over the building and classrooms so that there is sufficient distance, or online if there is no other option. ”
Cannot explain
Evers is also concerned about eighth-graders in primary education and their teachers. “With thirty students in a classroom, it is impossible to explain this uncertain situation. The cabinet has decided to switch to online education until January 18. But in some places at least groups 8 just open ”, says Evers. "In a number of schools, half classes are chosen in consultation and staff can indicate that they still work from home and provide online education, but that is not the case everywhere."
During the brief Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge announced to the Lower House today that the primary schools really no earlier than January 18i will open. This was previously the case, but De Jonge now writes: 'The schools and childcare are only open for vulnerable children and for children with a parent with a crucial profession. The exceptions regarding emergency care, exam classes, tests in pre-exam classes, practice-oriented subjects and vulnerable children will be maintained, in accordance with the advice of the OMT.' This decision will be reconsidered around 12 January.
Also read: 'Many questions in MBO and HBO about the lockdown'
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