Minister: An algorithm has been developed to identify children who will be able to return to school

The adopted amendments were tabled by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports Jurgita Šiugždinienė after the government meeting on Wednesday.

“The government has supplemented its decision that starting tomorrow, children who have difficulties in distance learning at home will be able to study safely at school or in a child welfare center, as well as in an open youth center. It is It is very important that all children have the same distance learning opportunities and that these opportunities are of the highest possible quality ”, said the Minister.

She reported that she has another message.

“Another important thing is that today I confirmed 7.5 million with my order. a 1 billion euro action plan to assist students in distance learning. These are some of the groups that are very important to us. These are children living in more difficult conditions, as well as graduates, and assistance will also be provided to teachers, ”explained J. Šiugždinienė.

According to the Minister, these are newly allocated funds from this Government, which were not foreseen by the previous Government. They will be designed for computer equipment that will reach children who do not have it or who use low-quality phones or tablets instead of a computer. The other portion of the funds will be used for counseling, open lessons for graduates, and planned summer schools for children experiencing educational losses.

“Yes, there is no preparation for such a situation (previous government – aut.past.). No action plan has been developed to support the students. Nor were funds provided for the acquisition of new technologies or for additional consultations or lessons. That is what we prepare for it ”, explained the minister.

Who will be able to return to schools?

To address the question of who will be able to return to schools, according to the minister, an algorithm has been developed to indicate how to identify children who are having difficulties.

“The decision will be up to the school child welfare commission,” said J. Šiugždinienė.

Many problems are dealt with by the municipalities themselves and by the schools themselves. The municipalities, according to the minister, will decide who will organize the trip and who will be on duty at the school at that time. According to J. Šiugždinienė, the free meals process is also organized and will be organized by the municipalities.

“It just came to our knowledge then. As we know, those children whose parents do not have access to learning at home, today they work on the front line, they are also given the opportunity to study at a distance at school. I want to emphasize: distance education at school it will not be a lesson that takes place at school ”, emphasized the Minister.

The amendment, adopted on Wednesday, aims to help primary, basic and secondary school students from vulnerable families who do not have access to homeschooling and therefore miss school. The Cabinet of Ministers has agreed to provide them with childcare services and the opportunity to study remotely from school, childcare centers or youth centers.

This must be guaranteed by the municipal administrations, in addition to providing care and restoration services, guaranteeing the required security requirements.

This will be done in two cases:

First, when parents, adoptive parents, guardians, representatives are required by law to perform job functions (work) in the workplace and cannot care for children educated in accordance with the primary home education program.

Second, When children educated in primary, basic and secondary education programs do not have the conditions to study at home or for other objective reasons, further assistance for distance education is needed by decision of the school child welfare commission.

The goal is to notice children in distress

After hearing complaints from school leaders that they failed to start implementing the change tomorrow, J. Šiugždinienė assured that schools and municipalities had been informed about the decision much earlier.

“We have really worked together for a long time, it is definitely not a decision made yesterday or today. The municipalities were really informed, these issues were coordinated with them. We have repeatedly joined forces with both municipalities and school leaders. Perhaps not everyone was online, but really this information and that decision is waiting has been known for a long time, I would say, back in December, “he explained.

The Minister of Education, Science and Sports also highlighted the essence of the decision.

“The point of the decision is that we look at these children, that the teacher notices them, that the class teacher notices them and that the school looks indifferent to the fact that there are children who do not have the conditions,” emphasized the minister.

The Minister reported that plans have already been drawn up for the gradual return of students to schools, if epidemiological circumstances permit. Priority will be given to graduates and beginners.

“The deadlines will depend on the epidemiological situation. It will depend a lot on the scope of vaccination and the possible scope of the tests,” he said.