As September 1 approaches, the most important requirements to return to contact education

More expensive All schoolchildren and students must wear protective masks during contact sessions.

Vaccines. Students will not be subject to any vaccination restrictions. Students will be able to attend school even if they are 12 years old but have not been vaccinated. Higher education and vocational training students can only access face-to-face classes if they have been vaccinated, have immunity, or have a valid negative COVID-19 test. The requirements to be vaccinated or evaluated periodically also apply to all educators.

Distances. Institutions of higher education and vocational training, when possible, shall ensure a distance of 2 meters between students, no more than 150 people can be in a group, class flow. Final safety requirements for schools will be established this week.

Tests. Testing for immunity against COVID-19 is not required and is recommended but not required for immune or unvaccinated students. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports emphasizes that refusing to take the exam cannot become a barrier to entering school. All schools must allow students to voluntarily test in one of the methods chosen by the school: the cumulative method or self-monitoring using rapid antigen tests.

Other security measures. All the returnees to contact education must observe social distance, avoid mixing of class and group flows, must ventilate and disinfect the facilities, and it will be necessary to follow the recommendations for the use of masks when transporting students by bus.

Back to distance education. Primary school students will learn in person at all times, with a deterioration in morbidity rates that will force the use of masks. Graduates, even in a difficult pandemic situation from February 2022, would also study only in classrooms. Because the remaining participants in the education system, in a difficult situation, the Government has provided the possibility of leaving contact education only to those who have immunity or are taking tests. Restrictions on the activities of educational institutions can be introduced at the level of a school, specific municipality or at the national level.

Isolation. If a pupil or student becomes ill, specialists from the National Center for Public Health will decide the need to isolate the class or group, and the school will decide the path of higher education for the pupils. The student in isolation should receive distance education and, if possible, can be connected remotely to get in touch with classroom activities.

Informal education. Non-formal early childhood education activities in closed places, in accordance with the established security conditions, will be carried out in the form of contact with a group of up to 30 children. If there are more children, only those who have been vaccinated, become ill or are regularly tested will be able to participate.

Health certificates. Kindergarten students and children must have a valid medical certificate; it is valid for one year, so it is not always necessary to present the certificate on September 1.