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“The minister is dreaming,” was the phrase that came from Vilnius teachers when they heard about the desire to return children to school soon. The words spoken by A. Monkevičius caused a real storm of dissatisfaction, at least in Vilnius, because the capital’s schools are full (some are crowded), making it hard to even imagine how student flows could be distributed.
Would go back unless other group activities
However, the Vilnius municipality is not yet considering the possibility of returning all children to classes. According to Deputy Mayor Vytautas Mitalas, the minister’s statement turned out to be improvised.
Starting June 1. Could be used for design work, filling gaps. And, if the situation allows, do some activities even in schools. If it helps improve the psychological well-being of children, – said V.Mitalas.
“It just came to our attention then. We also spoke to schools on Thursday and established the position that we want the school year not to be artificially shortened and to continue to the usual dates, we want to draw the schools’ attention to the fact that It is June 1. It could no longer be used for routine learning, but for project work, to close gaps.
And, if the situation allows, some activities, even in schools, are carried out with each other, provided that it does not contradict the decisions of the Emergency Commission and helps to improve the psychological well-being of children, especially at the end of the school year. It seems to me that the most important thing here, “said V.Mitalas.
According to him, such a message proved to be acceptable to schools, they assess the situation in a similar way. According to V.Mitalas, the minister himself did not yet have any concrete decision, but he presented a proposal for the children to return to schools for at least two weeks.
Currently, the survey is conducted by the Association of Municipalities of Lithuania, so municipalities are likely to see the balance between safety and the desire to return to school and the release of parents.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Remigijus Šimašius and Vytautas Mitalas
Some of the children have returned.
Some elementary schools in Vilnius are currently supervised, allowing parents who do not have the opportunity to stay home with their children to work.
“Apparently, in the near future, the possibility of receiving care should be further expanded, but with a wide bridge to return to school for two weeks or another time, it is very difficult for me to imagine how this could happen in Vilnius. I say that in Vilnius we will focus, as I said, on the psychological well-being of children and some activities, perhaps once a week in certain groups, or several times, but according to the safety rules and not in the lesson mode usual, “V.Mitalas said. .
The deputy mayor said that a survey of the upper classes showed that they were very tired; Let’s say, I’m a progymnasium student, only after graduating from elementary school do you get into the subject system, and next door is a lot of self-study that those kids haven’t experienced yet.
“It feels different at different ages, but it also feels for beginners. Therefore, we think of such models more than the return of ordinary education for some time this school year, ”said V.Mitalas.
Scanpix Photo / Child
Becoming hotbeds of disease
Rimantas Remeika, director of the Vilnius Duke Gediminas Progymnasium, is convinced that if all children were allowed to return to schools, they would become the focus of COVID-19. Because if it is possible to manage student flows at a small school in the area in a safe way for everyone, then schools in the capital will certainly not be able to do so.
“There is a lot of uncertainty: what distances should there be between the students? Perhaps the minister does not understand that the schools in the city are very full, after 25-30 students in the classes, and if since June 1, they all return , the flows will be enormous, they will mix. Then, will there be no more quarantine at that time? According to such statements by the Minister, it is possible to understand that the quarantine is ending and that we are working normally, “said the director of the progymnasium.
Perhaps the minister does not understand that the schools in the city are very full, after 25-30 students in the classes, and if since June 1. they all come back, the flows will be enormous, they will mix. So won’t there be any more quarantines at that time? R. Remeika asked.
According to R. Remeika, if only beginners returned, then perhaps it would be possible to divide classes correctly and control flows, but only in large schools and not allow seniors to return. However, it intends to follow the instructions of the Vilnius municipality, which it received last, that education will continue to be organized remotely.
“It just came to our attention then. Educators have already mastered distance learning tools. Because the threat here would be huge. Schools can and will become hotbeds because neither teachers are explored nor children. This is a threat from high level unless we recognize that the coronavirus is no longer present. This is the only way I understand the Minister’s speech, “said R. Remeika.
Quarantine: until the end of May
According to the director, the Progymnasium has already discussed this and decided not to take risks, and support has also been received from Vilnius city leaders. Schools in the capital and other large cities are said to be unmatched by, for example, rural schools, where sometimes only 5 or 10 children attend a class, here, as R. Remeika says, “an infected child it can infect a thousand. “
Managed by Cabbage / 15min photo / Remote lessons
A. Monkevičius said at a press conference Friday that this return to school would be a rehearsal before September, when it will still be necessary to think about the safety of people at risk. However, the minister did not specify whether the number of children in the classroom will decrease, whether there will be mandatory shields or masks, gloves.
“We will discuss those issues in the government next week,” he explained.
The state maturity exam session should start on June 22, according to the minister, nothing changes here.
Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has also said that there is a desire for students to return to school later this school year.
Last week, the government decided to extend the quarantine until May 31.
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