Scenarios for the new school year
A new school year is about to start in Romania, and pupils will soon find out whether classes will continue online or not
Corina Cristea, 02.09.2020, 14:00
Classes switched
to online this spring against the backdrop of the coronacrisis. On September 14
a new school year is about to start. The date is certain, and so if the fact
that schooling units can opt for one of the three scenarios to organize
classes. Depending on the evaluation of the National Institute for Public
Health, schools can choose to call all pupils to school, keep half of them home
and do the classes online and call half to class to keep everyone at home and
do classes online. Health Minister Nelu Tataru:
On September 7,
the National Institute for Public Health will make public its epidemiological
assessment for each administrative unit. Right now we have a total of 3.181
units. Each of these units will be assessed, and the opening of the school year
will take into account the results. On September 10, the boards of schooling
units will have to submit the scenario they have opted for to the committees
for emergency situations for each county and the capital city Bucharest, to
directorates of public health and schools inspectorates in each county and in
the capital city Bucharest.
The Health
minister said medical staff will perform a triage of pupils upon entry, and
face masks will be compulsory for teachers and pupils alike. In turn, Education
Minister Monica Anisie explained the methodology on organizing the activity of
schooling units for each type of system has been set in place. The Education
Ministry has also prepared a number of ways to interact with pupils, parents
and teachers, namely the educaţiacontinuă.edu.ro website and a number of
telephone lines. Monica Anisie:
I’ve decided to
set up a free-of-charge telephone line at the Education Ministry, where parents
and pupils can call to ask questions. Directors of schooling units and local
authorities who want to access European funds can call another telephone line
for support.
Minister Monica
Anisie went on to say that each teacher will have to organize his curricula to
prevent learning gaps at class level. The two ministries have made public a
joint decree providing for health safety measures to be introduced in schools.
Physical entry in schools will be spaced-out, using several access points, at
intervals depending on areas and buildings. Movement inside the building will
also observe pre-determined routes, while observing the minimum 1-meter
distance between pupils. The pupils’ health will be assessed during the first
class.
(Translated by
V. Palcu)
