Mainz (dpa / lrs) – In view of the increasing number of corona infections in Rhineland-Palatinate, parents’ representatives and education unions are worried about the start of school on the Monday after the two-week autumn vacation. From the point of view of the Association of Education and Upbringing (VBE) in Rhineland-Palatinate, due to the currently rapidly increasing numbers, it is questionable how long the regular lessons can be continued across the board in the current form. Individual solutions – for example in the form of changes to the timetable – are already being discussed and implemented in many places in the state.
But whether ventilation concepts or the purchase of ventilation devices are sufficient to prevent infections remains questionable, said VBE state chairman Gerhard Bold. “The country should possibly think about corona rapid tests in schools in order not to carry possible infections into school and thus spread them.”
In addition to the distance requirement, the mask requirement for students and teachers is also intended to prevent an increasing number of infections in the classes. For example, intermittent ventilation is planned every 20 minutes and, if the corona warning level is red, mouth and nose protection in class.
The Rhineland-Palatinate state parents’ spokesman, Reiner Schladweiler, anticipates that schools will have to be closed in the coming months due to increasing numbers of infections. He sees the problem that a lot is still unclear. For example, there are statements from experts that elementary school children and daycare children cannot become infected. “However, there are also other opinions – for us the question arises: What is right now?” Said Schladweiler. In order to find out, extensive tests would have to be made, which unfortunately do not exist.
The Philology Association of Rhineland-Palatinate criticized the fact that students, parents and teachers felt left alone. In particular, the failure to observe the distance requirement during lessons is problematic, which is in contrast to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. Students in Rhineland-Palatinate do not have to keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters during lessons, but generally they should keep their distance in the school building and wear masks.
The State Representation of Schoolchildren in Rhineland-Palatinate (LSV) thinks it is right that the state government should work out special requirements for different regions and school locations with the help of working groups. “It would not make sense if a district with a rather low number of infected people had to apply the same rules as a region with extremely high numbers,” said Paul Rossitsch from the LSV.
In principle, it is right that the schools should remain open as long as possible. Face-to-face classes offer students better knowledge transfer than online classes. Progress had also been made in this area since spring.
Education Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD), on the other hand, sees the schools well equipped for the restart of lessons after the autumn break. “Children and adolescents are not the drivers of the pandemic,” she said on Thursday.
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