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The general secretary of the National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) warned this Monday that schools will close again if the measures are not more demanding, highlighting that most establishments still do not have the necessary conditions.
“We think that nothing replaces teaching in the classroom, but if the measures are not demanding, rigorous, if they are not recommended for the community, what we will have is rapid closure of schools.“, stressed Mário Nogueira.
Fenprof’s general secretary addressed journalists today at the entrance to the Escola EB 2,3 Marquesa de Alorna, in Lisbon, where he presented the results of a survey of 321 school groups, which reveal that most schools will reopen with a shortage of staff and teachers and failed to implement some of the guidelines of the Ministry of Education to minimize the risk of contagion of the new coronavirus.
“The school boards, teachers and those who prepared this school year did what was possible and even almost impossible“, he stressed, explaining that, however, the schools could not carry out many of the necessary measures.
The union leader referred, in particular, to the physical distance of at least one meter between students, a measure that, according to the survey carried out by Fenprof, it was not possible to ensure by most of the schools (52.5%).
In addition to this, the teacher representative pointed out other problems that still occur on the first day of the beginning of the school year, from the lack of teachers and operational assistants, to the lack of funds for the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning products and disinfection. .
The resolution of these issues, defended Mário Nogueira, is urgent so that the schools remain open. And he adds: “The requirement is for those who do not want schools to close.”
“What has not yet been done, and two months have been lost without doing it, must be done now,” he said, highlighting that the messages of confidence from the Minister of Education are not enough.
“The minister can repeat the word trust, the word security, which is not what makes the school safe and gives people confidence. Actions are needed that have not been taken so far“, he is stressed.
Despite the lack of security conditions in many schools, Mário Nogueira said the solution would be to postpone the start of the school year, appealing instead to the responsibility of the educational community, while the guardianship does not deal with the situation.
The general secretary also said that, just as the decision to close a school in the event of an outbreak is made by the local health authorities, the conditions at the opening should also have been evaluated by them, defending, on the other hand, testing. in covid-19 before going back to school, a complaint to the union structure since high schools reopened in May.
The school year begins between today and Thursday, with the return of students and teachers to schools and face-to-face education, which was interrupted in March by the covid-19 pandemic.
Most schools, however, will take advantage of the first few days to hold the usual reception sessions for tutors. This is the case of the Escola EB 2,3 Marquesa de Alorna, in Lisbon, where Fenprof was today, and which only reopens its doors to students as of Wednesday.
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