Until a few days ago, the Minister of Health Roman Prymula (for YES) assured in his speech to the nation that the development of the pandemic will not endanger the return of primary school children to school – and will take place on Monday after the autumn holidays.
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“While the release of all measures will depend on the parameters of the epidemic, such as the reproductive number, we will reopen attendance at the first stage without conditions on the second of November,” Prymula assured.
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At Wednesday’s press conference, where the government presented other even stricter measures, the Minister of Health already questioned the return of children to school.
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“It can happen that only the first and second class will be returned to the system. We will see according to the data that will be available, “said Roman Prymula. However, he assured that the return of children to school is a top priority.
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Michal Černý, the principal of Masaryk’s primary school in Prague-Klánovice and at the same time the president of the Association of Primary School Principals, seems to be the best of the possible scenarios for the possibility of taking at least full-time classes instead of the entire first grade.
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“These children need full-time teaching the most. These are years in which we cannot do without the massive commitment and cooperation of our parents. It exhausts parents. At higher grades, there is much less pressure on parents, “explains Michal Černý, adding that due to the epidemiological situation, he himself did not believe that the first grade would actually start school in November.
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Outdoor schools are also an option
In recent days, the Minister of Health has also suggested that outdoor schools could be a starting point.
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“It simply came to our notice then. This is a variant if the curve cannot be flattened. It is a relatively regular proposal, “commented Roman Prymula on Monday’s press conference on the idea of teaching children in the form of outdoor school.
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And he was also supported by the Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová (for YES) “This is not the first time I have heard it. It has been debated in various debates. We will talk about it and find a way. It’s a big priority, it’s for children, “she commented on the proposal.
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On the contrary, the president of the Association of Primary School Principals opposes this idea, according to him the idea is ill-conceived.
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“The capacity of the buildings would not be enough. It would be a huge number of children who would have to go out. Organizationally: where would they go, how would the schools address the given objects, who would pay for it, who would go with the children, “Michal Černý describes a number of unresolved questions.
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