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Schools in Greece open with special measures and masks on September 14. The movements in other European countries are similar.
Schools across Europe will reopen at the end of summer break and governments are urging students to return to their classrooms after months of online courses imposed by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Countries take different approaches to minimize disease transmission in schools.
Brittany
Primary schools reopened in England on June 1, starting with some age groups of students. The high school students, ages 15 to 18, returned to their classes on June 15. Students of all ages return to regular school hours for the new school year this week. Schools in Scotland reopened on August 11.
A recent survey of primarily English schools shows that 96% of schools are divided into classes with small groups, called “bubbles”, each group maintaining a safe distance from the other groups to minimize the risk of transmission. The vast majority plan to change break times and increase school hours, according to a survey by the National Association of School Directors.
Rules for wearing masks and other protective gear vary: high school students in England will be required to wear face masks in public areas if closures are imposed on their areas. In Scotland, masks will be compulsory when entering school.
France
Schools opened today. Students over the age of 11 must wear a mask in all areas of the school, including interior areas. Schools should limit the participation of different groups of classes, ventilate and disinfect classrooms.
Physical attendance at school is mandatory, although schools can adapt to the rise in local Covid-19 cases, for example by limiting physical attendance to a few days or weeks. In the event of a severe regional outbreak, schools may be temporarily closed.
In kindergarten, children in the same class need not be socially isolated. Elementary schools can be divided into classes of 8-15 students who will alternate between half a day in the classroom and at home. In secondary schools, all students will go to school at least a few days a week.
Germany
The children have returned to school normally since the beginning of August. In most states, students and teachers are required to wear masks indoors, unless they are sitting at their desks.
Classes and different ages of students should be in different parts of the school during breaks.
Doors and windows will remain open as long as possible. Most of the teachers returned to school, although many pressed for additional protection. Some online courses continue on special occasions.
Hellas
The Greek authorities have postponed the opening of schools for a week until September 14. Teachers and students are required to wear one mask inside the classroom and one indoors, and each will receive a cloth mask.
Likewise, in all primary schools in the country, each student will be given a hermit crab, due to hygiene conditions.
Italy
Schools in most parts of the country are expected to open on September 14. Measures to minimize transmission of the disease have not yet been finalized.
To maintain social distance, school hours will be staggered slightly and single-seat desks will be installed in the coming weeks. Wearing a mask will be mandatory for those entering and leaving school, but masks can be removed during class if there is a safe distance between desks.
Some high schools with a larger number of students in the classroom emphasize that they will use a combination of distance education and physical presence in the classroom to avoid overcrowding. The government agreed to provide more resources for more public transportation services, for safe transportation to schools.
If a student or teacher becomes infected, school principals and health authorities must decide whether to close the entire school, some classrooms, or quarantine those exposed to the virus.
Netherlands
Dutch primary and secondary schools began to gradually open in August, at a normal rate.
Classes in primary and secondary schools are conducted in person. Students and teachers are not required to wear masks. Some teachers were reluctant to return to work, and some schools introduced their own mask rules.
If a student becomes infected with the coronavirus, everyone in their household must remain under house arrest for 10 days. Children older than six years with symptoms should stay home and undergo a diagnostic test. Younger students can attend school with even mild cold symptoms, but should stay home if they have a fever.
Norway
The schools gradually reopened as of April 27. Children are not required to wear masks and the school schedule remains largely unchanged.
Online courses are no longer an option. Classmates should stay together without mixing in school with students from other classes. During breaks, each class has a different space on the playground. Rest times are also increasing. Children with symptoms should stay home and get tested for Covid-19 infection. In kindergartens, children can come even if they have a cold, but they should stay home if the symptoms are more severe.
Poland
Schools opened today. Masks are not required in the classroom. School principals decide on the use of a mask in public areas and if they assign class hours.
Requests from some schools and municipalities to delay the start of the new school year were rejected. Elementary and secondary schools in cities like Warsaw have a large number of students and some teachers say that it will be impossible to follow the rules of social distance even with graduated hours. Families that refuse to send their children to school will face a fine of up to 10,000 zlotys (about 2,300 euros).
Russia
And in Russia today schools were opened. School hours and breaks will be staggered to avoid overcrowding in public areas. Thermometers will be brought to school. Students with flu-like symptoms will be isolated.
The recommendation for children is to wear a mask, but it is not mandatory. Staff will wear masks at all times, unless they are standing at a safe distance from students. Online education is not offered as an alternative.
Spain
Elementary and secondary schools begin the academic year in the regions during the first three weeks of September.
Physical attendance at school is compulsory, as is the use of a mask in the classroom for children six years and older. Students must wash their hands at least five times a day. Social distancing should be observed, in addition to members of a “bubble”, a small group of children who must stay away from members of other “bubbles.” Thermometers will be taken every morning, at school or at home.
Sweden
Swedish schools have been open since the beginning of the pandemic and welcomed students in mid-August after the summer break. Local authorities decide how to handle potential outbreaks, with options such as closing individual schools.
Each school is responsible for following the guidelines on social distance and hygiene. Masks are optional.
Some municipalities have changed school curricula to avoid congestion on public transportation. The decision to keep schools open did not lead to higher infection rates among students compared to neighboring Finland, where schools were temporarily closed, according to a joint report by the two countries’ public health services.
With information from APE / Reuters
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