Slob: 'Pilots with rapid tests in schools'
As soon as reliable rapid tests for corona are available, pilots will be started in schools. Education minister Arie Slob declared this in the Lower House today. In December, the minister will also give a definite answer about the course of affairs regarding the final exams, the final test for primary education and the extra week of 'holiday' at Christmas.
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According to Slob, the schools must remain open for as long as possible to prevent the educational disadvantages increase further. One of the problems with keeping this open, according to the minister, is that young people often hardly have any complaints of the corona virus. "And so they go to school without knowing they are infected, and infect others there."
To prevent this, Slob wants to start pilots as soon as reliable corona rapid tests are on the market. These tests can be used in two ways. In the first place at schools at the front door, to test every student upon entry and thus keep corona out. And further, very focused, to track down infected people in schools that are struggling with an outbreak.
The infections among teachers are not so bad in secondary education, Slob explains. “About five percent of all teachers who have themselves tested have been found to be positive in recent weeks. That figure is fairly stable. ”
If schools close for an extra week, I think distance education should be provided
The minister also recommends that schools only provide education and not organize any other activities. “That is reasonably enforced, although I still hear signs that schools sometimes still hold meetings. I say: don't do it. ” Minister Slob wants to address administrators about this again.
Christmas break
The fact that there is speculation in the media about an extra week of Christmas holidays is premature, according to the minister. “If the schools are already closing for an extra week, I think distance education should be provided. This is to prevent the backlogs from increasing further and to prevent students from undertaking other activities together. ” Because then the closure of schools obviously makes no sense.
According to the minister, it will be clear on 8 December whether the extra online lesson week is coming. “We must first have a general discussion about the spread and control of the virus. Is education the sector that must make a contribution? We are not that far yet. ”
We must first have the general discussion about the spread and control of the virus. Is education really the sector that should make a contribution?
The House also asked questions about the subsidy scheme for the improvement of ventilation in schools. 360 million euros has been made available for this, but that money will only become available at the beginning of January. Schools don't have to wait for that, however, says Slob. “Schools that make use of the scheme know that they are entitled to the contribution. And schools have a total of more than a billion euros in reserves in the bank: you can get to work with that. ”
Final exams
In mid-December, Slob wants to announce what will happen with the final exams in secondary education and the final primary education test. The latter test was canceled last year, but the minister wants to do everything in his power to allow this final test to take place this school year. This is because this test sometimes counts as a second opinion, which opens the door for students in disadvantaged situations to a higher level of secondary education.
Finally, according to the minister, there is sometimes a lack of clarity about face masks in the classroom: should teachers wear a face mask when they move around in the classroom? No, according to the minister - as long as the teacher keeps a distance of XNUMX meters from the students. Outside the classroom, mouth masks must be worn, also by the students. Enforcement of this is a matter for the schools themselves. "We are not going to send BOAs into the school."
