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COVID19: Schools to open amid fears and criticism

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President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday assuaged concerns of parents, teachers and students over the reopening of schools, after confusion on whether health experts said it was safe to go back.

With all schools scheduled to open their gates on 21 May, Monday will see final year students preparing for Cyprus and Greek state university exams to be the first ones to return to class.

President Anastasiades said he understood the concerns of parents, teachers and students but they were not justified since decisions made were backed by epidemiological data, and subject to scientific advisers’ final say.

“Any decision taken will be implemented under strict adherence to health protection protocols,” said Anastasiades in a written statement.

He reminded the public that in his address to the nation on 29 April, on the gradual lifting of lockdown measures, he stated: “…the decisions regarding measures of the first phase or the second phase will depend entirely on the epidemiological indicators and the recommendations of the scientific team”.

All these were necessary prerequisites for implementing the decision to resuming all levels of education.

“I would like to stress once again that our priority has been and still remains to ensure the health, life and well-being of citizens,” Anastasiades said.

His statement came after the confusion was created when members of the scientific team advising the government on handling the coronavirus crisis, appeared not to have sanctioned the opening of schools on May 21.

Dr Leontios Kostrikis had told Sigma TV on Thursday, that he was “surprised” to hear the decision, noting that the team had not advised on when to open schools.

Since a number of his colleagues argued that it would be safe for children to return to school on 21 May, it seems there was a difference of opinion between the scientific advisers themselves and the state on the issue.

This is the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, that government and the scientists appear to be in disagreement.

President Anastasiades and his cabinet have taken great pride and plaudits for adhering to the science in combating the pandemic.

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou in a news conference on Friday said the government aimed to alleviate widespread fears that the return to school was happening too soon.

He said that while things have to move forward, if necessary, plans could also be reevaluated and changed.

Prodromou argued that there is still time until most students return to their classrooms on 21 May to prepare schools to function under the new guidelines and health protection protocols.

“While the government understands the anxieties, people should not go to extremes,” he said.

Behaviour lessons

The Education Minister said that the ministry is preparing films and videos for children which will show them how they should behave at school to keep safe.

He explained that not more than 12 students will be assigned to each classroom, with desks seating one child only.

He repeated earlier announcement that some 20,000 students and teachers are to undergo testing for the virus.

On Saturday, Prodromou will spend two hours on Facebook, during which he will answer questions from the public via messenger.

In comments to the Financial Mirror, President of secondary education teacher union OELMEK, Costas Hadjisavvas, said the ministry was too hasty in taking the decision to send students back to school.

“The Ministry should have focused on preparing final year students who will be finishing school and taking part in the national exams for entry to Cyprus and Greek universities.”

He argued that the number of final-year high school students is large enough to pose difficulties in maintaining health protocols as issued by the Health and Education ministries.

“Everyone will need to be extremely careful and vigilant to prevent the spread of the virus in schools. Students will need to be educated on how to behave at school, which is a task on its own,” said Hadjisavvas.

“And now they’ve announced that all kids are to return to school. Unfortunately, the ministry is trying to accommodate other interests which have nothing to do with education.”

Student groups have also voiced their concern about returning to class saying social distancing for the classroom is below the standard set for other places of work.