ONLINE CLASSES ARE COMING: The number of infected students and teachers in schools is growing, in some cities students are already learning from home

– It is estimated how much the virus has entered school groups, and the risk of transmission in the school itself has become greater than in the community itself, and when the time will come when the whole school will switch to online classes, I cannot say now, it certainly comes close. – said Dr. Srdja Jankovic, a member of the crisis staff. – Classes switch to online classes when conditions are right. The position of crisis staff is to keep the lowest grades in school for as long as possible, in part because younger children cannot stay home alone.

At the same time, when it comes to local self-government, it is left, on the recommendation of the local crisis headquarters, the students of those cities can go on to learn from home. Thus, schools in cities where a state of emergency has been declared (Vrbas, Bujanovac, Paracin, Temerin and Bor, as well as some schools in Nis) have switched to online classes. However, in most educational institutions in Serbia, work is normal, although in almost all there are infected teachers and students, as well as those who are in contact self-isolation.

Schools are quickly ending the semester, because vacation will almost certainly begin on December 21. For that, however, it is necessary to change the school calendar. Education Minister Branko Ružić said yesterday that the idea of ​​harmonizing AP Vojvodina’s school calendars with the rest of Serbia was mentioned, and that winter holidays could be from December 21 to January 20, to cover all holidays. He emphasized that schools are not closing at the moment, but that there is always the possibility to switch to online classes. He said they will discuss the transition to the Internet for the older grades of elementary schools and for high school students. Speaking about the number of infected people in education, which is increasing, Ruzic said:

– The figures are statistically insignificant, but the system has a level at which it can withstand the impact that comes from abroad, not from the educational system, because the educational system is not a place where virus transmission is present at such a high level .

MORE STUDENTS WOULD LIKE DISTANCE CLASSES

As parents tell us, the number of requests for the transition of children from “normal” classes to online classes is increasing in schools, as is the case with the Sixth Belgrade Gymnasium. By the way, at the beginning of the school year, parents were told that children can switch to online classes every month and vice versa.