Children in primary schools already free from next week
The Christmas holidays will start a week earlier for children at (special) primary schools to prevent the spread of the omikron variant of the corona virus. This measure is not yet necessary for secondary schools, as it turned out during the press conference tonight. The AOb finds this incomprehensible: “All arguments for closing schools in primary education also apply to secondary education.”
Picture: Type tank
“The rapid spread of the omikron variant is a cause for concern and great caution,” emphasizes outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Because of how the holidays fall this year, there is no buffer between the Christmas days, while that time is important, according to him, to reduce the infections and prevent further spread. An early holiday reduces the chance that infected children will infect their grandparents and other family members during the holidays, according to the caretaker cabinet.
Distance learning
Emergency care must be arranged for vulnerable children and children of parents with crucial professions. Schools have until Tuesday 21 December at the latest to do so. Schools are not required to offer distance learning. According to Rutte, it was a difficult decision: "We know how such a decision irrevocably leads to learning delays, apart from practical consequences for parents and schools. But also knowing that we could only make this decision today because of the feasibility."
Small children are not vaccinated. It makes sense that the virus spreads faster in primary schools
The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) advised several times to extend the Christmas holidays, but outgoing minister Arie Slob thought this was undesirable until last week, because there are already learning arrears due to corona. Due to the emergence of omikron, the cabinet has now decided to allow primary schools to have three instead of two weeks of Christmas holidays, until Monday 10 January. "Small children have not been vaccinated. It is logical that the virus spreads faster in primary schools and that is why it is important to take measures for that specific target group," said Rutte. Furthermore, all current corona measures will be extended until January 14.
Unfortunately, Omikron does not stop at twelve-year-olds. It is a pity that the cabinet has not taken a decision on secondary education
De AOb is relieved that the outgoing cabinet has met the call earlier today not to oblige schools to offer hybrid education. “There is far too little time to properly prepare this”, responds AObchairman Tamar van Gelder.
Vision is missing
However, she finds it incomprehensible that the decision has only now been made and that a clear vision for secondary education is lacking. “Unfortunately, Omikron doesn't stop at twelve-year-olds,” she says. “It is a great pity that the cabinet has not made a decision about secondary education. All arguments for closing schools in primary also apply to secondary education.”
According to Van Gelder, schools could use the week before Christmas to co2 meters and adjust the ventilation. “And that, of course, applies to all education, from primary to university. Just like our call for teachers who want to give priority to a boost to give."
Unworkable situation
De AOb hopes that the next cabinet will realize that a decision must be made earlier. Van Gelder: “Moreover, the minister has repeated once again: schools and institutions in secondary vocational education, secondary vocational education and higher education cannot be taken for the impossible and I hold him to that. If there is an unworkable situation due to testing, quarantine, illness and the ever-increasing teacher shortage, close the doors!"
Check here the frequently asked questions about the coronavirus for educational staff. This page will soon be adapted to the new measures.
