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Canton of St. Gallen bans ski camps and ski days for schools until spring break
Due to the corona pandemic, the education department bans “special teaching events” in schools until the spring. This includes ski days and camping. The canton also adheres to the mask requirement in class.
Ski camp? Not this year: the canton of St. Gallen bans “special teaching events” in schools until spring.
(SK / give) Various camps, ski days, and other special teaching events are planned at the schools through Spring Break of the 2020/21 school year. On Tuesday, the canton recommended giving up ski camps and ski days, but came out against the ban, unlike other cantons in eastern Switzerland. Now the government is changing: “special teaching events” are banned until spring break 2021. The canton announced this in a statement.
The reason: “When traveling to such events by public transport or car, on-site accommodation, but also when using infrastructure in ski areas, distance regulations are most likely not strictly adhered to”, write the canton. Additionally, significantly more third-party contacts would be expected, increasing the risk of infection with Covid-19. In the current tense epidemiological situation, acceptance of this risk is not justified.
The regulation applies to primary and secondary schools, as well as secondary and vocational schools in the cantons. During the time of canceled events, lessons are taught. This is preferable at the time of existing obstacles due to the pandemic, it is said.
Mask requirement remains
Since the beginning of November, the instructions on teaching in primary school during the Covid-19 epidemic have been in effect. They contain a mask requirement also at the upper level, as well as guidelines for singing and sports lessons. These instructions will now run until at least mid-January 2021. In addition, the president of the Board of Education made the decision about camps and excursions, both in elementary schools and in cantonal vocational and secondary schools. As part of a statement, the government basically supports the uniform regulations for the holiday season and ski areas provided by the federal government.
The mask requirement at the lower secondary level should only remain as long as necessary. This principle was already established when the instructions were issued. The current evolution of the number of cases gives reason for optimism, but it is still premature to lift the measures that have already been ordered. At the beginning of January 2021, due to the epidemiological situation at that time, it will be checked again if and from when the measures of the lower secondary cycle can be lifted. With a correspondingly positive development, a lifting of the mask requirement can be expected from mid-January 2021 at the earliest. The Federal Council regulates the mask requirement for secondary schools and professional schools.
Resolutions based on social alliances
The aforementioned measures will take effect on December 7, 2020. The President of the Board of Education, Government Councilor Stefan Kölliker, prepared the measures in consultation with the health department and the school’s employers ‘and employees’ associations.
