Stripe through almost all corona measures in education
Education can largely go back to the way it was. From 25 February, the mask is no longer necessary and keeping a distance is no longer mandatory. In MBO and higher education, the maximum group size of 75 people will be canceled this Friday. AOb-chairman Tamar van Gelder: “It seems back to normal, but the opposite is true. Lessons will still be canceled due to the dropout of colleagues. There is no such thing as normal education.”
Image: Martijn Beekman / National government
Ernst Kuipers (D66), Minister of Health, announced tonight that the cabinet is releasing almost all corona measures. However, the basic measures - sneezing in the elbow, washing hands, self-testing in case of complaints and sufficient ventilation - still remain in place.
"We are now in a different phase," Kuipers said during the press conference. "Despite the high contamination figures, the occupancy in the hospitals remains stable. In addition, the omikron variant is less pathogenic. This means that other interests weigh more heavily," said the minister.
We are now in a different phase
To step
Letting go of the rules happens in steps. Kuipers: "These are big steps and we are taking them in quick succession." For MBO institutions, colleges and universities, the maximum group size of 75 people will expire from this Friday. "The classes and lecture halls are allowed to fill up again," said the health minister.
Secondary schools en primary schools No longer have to spread the breaks from Friday and can let go of the cohortation between different groups within the schools, according to the website of the national government. Parents are also allowed to return to school, but the distance rule applies and the mouth cap must be on. Walking routes within the schools may also be removed.
The classes and lecture halls are allowed to fill up again
In addition, the cabinet will immediately adjust the work from home advice to: work at the office at most half of the time. This means that team meetings can also be held at schools from tomorrow. If the test is positive, the isolation time will be shorter: from seven days to five days. However, this is only possible if people are symptom-free for 24 hours.
No distance and mouth cap
The biggest return 'to normal' will be from February 25 when the distance rule and the mask obligation expire. Education staff in primary education are now obliged to wear a mask when they move around the school. The mask is allowed to take off in the classroom. The same applies to staff working at secondary schools, but students must also wear a mask. In MBO and higher education, the mouth cap must always be worn, but this will no longer be mandatory from 25 February.
Kuipers did say that corona is not gone yet. "Far from it. So the basic measures remain important." If it is busy, the advice is to put on a face mask or to keep your distance. The government will not make any changes to the measure to regularly perform a self-test.
Ventilation
AObChairman Van Gelder once again refers to the ventilation in the schools. 'Adequate fresh air' is part of the basic measures that will continue to apply. “We are very concerned about this,” says Van Gelder. “The cabinet is now taking steps in primary and secondary education, but the mbo and higher education are forgotten. And that while various experts claim that corona will no longer pass. Ventilation is then of crucial importance, this really has to be in order everywhere.”
Want to know more about ventilation? go to the special page of the AOb with useful brochures and tips. For the mbo, hbo and wo has the AOb opened its own hotline.
