AOb: 'Provide clarity about additional measures'
Before the primary schools can reopen on 8 February, the cabinet must clearly state what additional measures are being taken to limit the health risks for pupils and education staff.
Picture: Nina Maissouradze
Education minister Arie Slob announced on Sunday evening that primary schools will open again from 8 February. "We understand that parents and teachers are concerned," said Slob. "But we emphasize that the Outbreak Management Team considers it responsible that the schools reopen." Children contribute less to the spread of the British corona variety than was feared.
According to the OMT, the health risks of students and education staff are 'acceptable'. "That does not alter the fact that it is still a worrisome situation," said Slob. That is why additional measures will be taken in schools to further reduce the risks. Rapid tests become available for education. Children with complaints must stay at home, regardless of their age, and if there is an infected student, the entire class must be in home quarantine for five days.
Reopen
De AOb, which is not involved in the decision-making regarding the reopening of the schools, notes that the concerns of the teaching staff have not been allayed for the time being. “Most people would of course prefer to be in front of a class full of children again”, responds AObdriver Jelmer Evers. “But that must be justified. We do not know exactly what the further measures will be. We want clarity about that quickly. ”
The unrest caused by the cabinet deserves no beauty prize
Evers is disturbed by the mess with which this message about the reopening of the primary schools has been released. “The unrest caused by the cabinet does not deserve a beauty prize. Education should not be a plaything of political games. Those half-messages to which we are always allowed to respond do not allay the concerns of the staff. They rather enlarge them. The cabinet must take these concerns seriously. “
The crèches will also open again from 8 February. However, out-of-school care will remain closed, except for emergency care, as is already the case now. In the coming week, more needs to be made clear about how education staff will be further protected.
See here for answers to frequently asked questions about the coronavirus
