Controversial topic of school and Corona: Complete uncertainty for students and parents – teachers’ association makes demands

• Just before the next Corona-Summit associations demand clear decisions from politicians on how to proceed in schools.
• At least one Minister of Education can imagine school openings for certain age groups.
• For what concept will Germany decide?

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Berlin – In the vacation hardly any child likes to think about school. But the uncertainty could be even less popular. Because so far neither students nor parents know how it is 11th January goes on. Then the previous corona decision by the federal and state governments ends – a new one is expected on January 5th. The Lockdown will probably be extended, but what happens to them schools?

Information of Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung According to the states are divided on how to deal with educational institutions. Already in the last one decision It was said very generally: “In the period from December 16, 2020 to January 10, 2021, contacts are to be significantly restricted in schools. During this time, children should be cared for at home whenever possible. Therefore, during this period the schools are generally closed or the compulsory attendance is suspended. “

On the basis of these three sentences, each country could then find its own way. education has long been federal Controversial issue, because it is one of the last policy areas that the countries with determining sovereignty have left. In Bavaria and Saxony the schools were closed before Christmas. In Bremen, on the other hand, no more children had to appear, but the schools remained open anyway.

Schools in Corona times: Educational institutions should stay open for a long time – associations appeal

“Classroom teaching” is the word that many have held up for so long. “Keep schools open as long as possible” was the mantra. Too great the damage to the children seen in closings. And yet it turned out differently in the end – to the chagrin of some associations.

The German Academy for Child and Adolescent Medicine (DAKJ) and the German Teachers Association about now appeal to politicsTo make “schools safe places for students and teachers” and to make clear decisions. Because: “School and education are among the basic needs of children”, writes Secretary General of the DAKJ, Hans-Iko Huppertz in the declaration.

The associations demand one, among other things nationwide hygiene level plan, which clearly defines what happens when, depending on the infection rate and age. In this way, complete school closings should be avoided in the future. In addition, infection protection in schools must be improved, for example through distance regulations, masks for teachers and rapid tests.

Fast School openings With concepts also challenge psychologists, especially with a view to growing numbers of “School refusal”. “After the first shutdown, we noticed a dramatic increase in the number of cases of refusal to attend school,” said the chairwoman of the Association of School Psychologists Baden-Württemberg (LSBW), Nina Grossmann of the German Press Agency. Pupils of all ages get used to doing nothing, neglect their tasks and then feel overwhelmed when they return to school.

Schools / Corona: will the federal states find a common path? So far there has been more of a disagreement

So far, politicians have been rather divided on how to proceed. Most recently in the headlines was the statement by the Baden-Württemberg Minister of Culture, Susanne Eisenmann (CDU), daycare centers and primary schools will definitely open from January 11th. Rushed to her side Friedrich Merzwho wants to prove himself soon at the CDU party congress. “Susanne Eisenmann has the courage to say something right, namely that the schools have to be reopened as soon as possible,” he told the newspaper Funke media group. “And it is also the political will of all those involved to go in this direction depending on the incidence situation.”

Eisenmann’s colleague from Bavaria is not yet as sure what will happen in the near future due to the high number of infections. “One Face-to-face teaching on January 11th for everyone I think is unlikely, “said Michael Piazolo (FW) recently compared to the Munich Mercury. Then it’s more of a hybrid between alternating and distance learning. Because he also rules out an extension of the vacation.

Spahn, Lauterbach and Drosten: Better to keep schools closed a little longer

Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU), which is currently receiving a lot of criticism about the corona vaccinations, has found an extension to be good. “I think it is easier for everyone to have the schools a week longer than to open them and then be faced with debates again at some point in a few weeks,” said Spahn on “RTL-Aktuell”.

Normality in schools also includes SPD health experts Karl Lauterbach out. He said the a few days ago Rheinische Post: “After this Lockdown there must be no return to regular classroom teaching. Mask, airing plus 30 children is not possible, otherwise there is a risk of exponential growth in the number of infections. “

Virologist emphasizes that there are also infections in schools Christian Drosten again and again. In mid-December, he shared one on Twitter Study from Oxfordwho recognized the strong effects of school closings in the fight against the corona pandemic. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) said repeatedly that more should be listened to science. But here lies the problem for politics at the same time: The school studies are still too different for clear guidelines to be discernible.