Hard lockdown affects all education
The outgoing cabinet announced a hard lockdown on Sunday evening that affects the entire education system. In an attempt to slow down the advance of the omikron variant of the coronavirus, it has been decided to immediately close education-wide schools. AOb-chairman Tamar van Gelder: “This is the day we hoped we had left behind.”
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“What a sad time this is for all pupils, students, teachers and researchers,” says Van Gelder. “The impact on education as a whole is almost incalculable.”
With the drastic lockdown the cabinet hopes to "buy time", as outgoing Prime Minister Rutte put it during the press conference. Whether schools can reopen after the Christmas holidays on Monday 10 January - and in what way - the cabinet will decide during a new weighing moment on 3 January. Due to all the uncertainties, schools are being asked to prepare to provide distance learning after the holidays. Distance learning is not mandatory for the coming week. As with the previous education lockdown, the cabinet is making an exception to the school closure for vulnerable pupils and students, for children of parents with crucial professions, for practical lessons, supervision of exam students, and specifically in MBO and higher education for exams and tests.
Focus on what needs to be done, such as emergency shelter, exams and practical lessons
Physical attendance at schools should be kept to a minimum, emphasizes AObPresident Van Gelder. “Work from home as much as possible. So no consultations or administrative work that can also be done at home. Focus on what needs to be done, such as emergency care, exams and practical lessons.” Her advice is not to jump headlong into online for a few days now. “Schools are also not held to the impossible. Make wise choices.”
Emergency advice
The OMT issued an emergency advice yesterday about the threat of the omikron variant of the corona virus. The speed with which it is spreading is very worrying. Vaccinees - without a booster - seem much more vulnerable to contamination with omikron than with the current delta variant. An extra shot significantly increases resistance, but due to the late start it takes longer for many people to build up sufficient protection. In the meantime, there is little or no room to absorb a new wave, because hospitals are still overloaded.
“I underline once again our request to give educational staff a booster shot as a matter of priority,” says Van Gelder. “It is also necessary to finally get the ventilation in order everywhere. After all, practical education and emergency care must be able to continue.”
I would like to underline once again our request to give teaching staff a booster shot as a matter of priority
In recent weeks, the cabinet has repeatedly stated that it will do everything it can to keep schools open from now on. Just four days ago - at the previous press conference last Tuesday - announced Prime Minister Rutte is only taking an early Christmas holiday for primary education. In doing so, the government followed up on earlier OMT recommendations, but other education sectors were not taken into account at that time.
Van Gelder makes an urgent appeal to employers to treat their staff with care and to take signals seriously. “I advise employees who feel unsafe to talk to their employer. And report to us if things are not going well.”
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