School start in Lower Saxony: new restrictions planned | NDR.de – news

Status: 04.01.2021 4:41 pm

After consultations with education ministers on the status of the crown in schools, Lower Saxony has promised a fresh start after the Christmas holidays with tighter restrictions.

It is clear that if the lockdown continues, the previous restrictions cannot remain, Education Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD) said on Monday. I couldn’t imagine elementary school students going back to face-to-face classes as a whole class. Restrictions are also necessary to reduce contact in daycare centers.

Extending the holidays is not a problem, until now

Tonne, on the other hand, didn’t mention an extension of the vacation beyond next weekend. Before the Christmas break, he had initially announced that elementary students would continue to take classes together until the end of the semester, but with the requirement of a mask. Also face-to-face lessons should be given for future high school graduates, the other classes should be taught alternately in divided classes according to the so-called scenario B. School closures are not ruled out either. The ministry plans to announce the exact specifications for the schools and daycare centers on Tuesday after deliberations by the federal and state governments on extending the closure. Various scenarios were prepared, he said.

Political: School only conceivable with restrictions

Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) had already announced at the weekend that if the closure were extended, “restrictions would be expected” on schools and kindergartens. Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek (CDU) also made it clear in advance that she currently cannot contemplate a return to full face-to-face teaching. “The safest would be a delayed general start of at least 14 days,” said Lower Saxony Deputy Prime Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) of the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung “(HAZ).” Only then can we seriously assess the actual infection situation. “

Instead of exams, teachers should evaluate other achievements.

Originally, exams should be rewritten starting this month, as Tonne said in December. It is not yet known if this possibility exists. However, Tonne had already asked the teachers to think of other accomplishments. “The number of written exams can be reduced and replaced by other evaluations,” said the Minister of Education. The CDU parliamentary group’s education policy spokesperson, Mareike Wulf, praised the clear outlook for the remainder of the school year in December. The 5th grade change model corresponds to “both the recommendations of the experts and the health interests of the students and teachers.”

The state student council wants a calendar for the next few months

The state student council, on the other hand, lacks a perspective that extends beyond half a year. “We need another calendar for the lessons starting in February,” said board member Justus Scheper. To allow for better long-term planning, the most reliable decisions possible must be made for the next few months.