Cabinet: 'Primary schools can open half classes'
Primary schools may open their doors from 11 May. From that day on, schools can start with half groups. Special education may be fully open and secondary schools may follow on 1 June. “If you have health problems or if your partner has them, then you shouldn't be forced to teach,” says AObchairman Eugenie Stolk.
Image: Press conference / National government
In his press conference tonight, Prime Minister Mark Rutte answered the pressing question: can education start again. The answer is: partly and only the primary schools and special education and only later the secondary schools if they can properly realize the 1,5 meters in the schools.
Custom Made
They are 'devilish dilemmas', according to Rutte, who admitted that he had struggled in recent days with the decision to relax measures. Nevertheless, he adopts the advice of the experts for education, also to make it easier for parents who work from home. Primary schools may start with half classes from 11 May. "Children will be taught half the time, so that half of the students will be taught first and the other half the next day," said the prime minister. “Per school, customization is needed and approval from the participation councils,” says Rutte.
Health complaints
Education staff with health problems do not have to stand in front of the group. "We understand the concerns and want to respond to them," said the prime minister. In addition, a crucial condition is that teaching staff, just like healthcare workers, are given testing opportunities. Special education is allowed to be completely open, just like childcare. Rutte also keeps an eye on the results from Scandinavia and hopes that the step to full opening of primary schools is possible.
The education professionals themselves know what works best
AObchairman Eugenie Stolk believes it is important that educational staff who are unsure about teaching cannot be put under pressure. “If you have health problems yourself or your partner has them, then you shouldn't be forced to teach,” says Stolk. The AOb will keep a close eye on how everything goes in primary education and what this means for secondary education. "Only when that goes well can we talk about the next step."
Small steps
It's all about small steps, responds AObchairman. “A lot of authority lies with the schools about the careful start-up of lessons in primary education. The education professionals themselves know what works best. ” She does hope that the unfinished RIVM study on infections in children will be made public before the schools open. "The Education Minister has always said that this investigation had to be done before a decision could be made."
Advice
Yet Rutte now decides to partially open the schools. The Outbreak Management Team (OMT), which consists of scientists and provides the cabinet with compelling advice on the policy choices to be made, called the (partial) opening of primary schools, special education and childcare a 'manageable risk' for public health.
Mild
The OMT also informed the cabinet that the study among children has not yet been completed, but that the first results are available. They show that an infection in children is milder and that they end up in hospital less often than adults. The scientists do expect more spread of the virus, but that will not lead to extra care or much more hospital admissions. Jaap van Dissel of the RIVM also listed the studies during the press conference that showed that children have more mild syndromes and are less affected. "On the basis of the investigations, the members of the OMT considered it a responsible and good measure to advise this to the cabinet."
Other education sectors
The other educational sectors, such as secondary vocational education, university colleges and universities, will have to continue to offer online lessons for the time being. Nothing has been said about these sectors and in the OMT advice states that it is still too great a risk to open these institutions again. “The dilemma is that each relaxation requires even more discipline and patience from everyone. Hold on! Do it for each other and help each other. That is the only way, ”says Rutte.
The schools have been closed in the Netherlands since 16 March and that measure was extended by Rutte at the end of March until the May holiday to contain the corona virus.
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