Saarbrücken (dpa / lrs) – According to the current Corona situation, the Saarland Ministry of Education is assuming that there will be “largely regular classroom teaching” in the new school year. “With all due caution, I do not think it appropriate to stir up fears – especially since people with an increased risk of severe disease will be vaccinated as far as possible by the new school year,” said Education Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot (SPD) of the German Press Agency in Saarbrücken.
If the virus “does not fundamentally change” its properties and the vaccination protection is retained, especially for these groups, “simply looking at the number of infections then no longer gives a reasonable picture of the situation”. “We have to look at other criteria that provide information about the burden on our health system,” said the minister.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, hygiene and infection protection measures have been geared towards preventing the health system from becoming overburdened. “We are currently assuming that largely regular classroom teaching in the coming school year will be compatible with this goal.” The goal is “the most extensive regular operation possible in our schools,” she emphasized.
Which hygiene and infection protection measures – such as mouth and nose protection – will be necessary at the beginning of the new school year depends on the actual situation at that time. “We will inform you about this in good time before the start of the new school year.” Before the start of the holiday, the state government will be discussing with experts what preparations need to be made for autumn.
The state is funding the purchase of air filters or air filter systems with around four million euros. Around 200 classrooms had been equipped with devices by mid-May. The ministry announced that around 480,000 euros of the funding were called up by the school authorities. The use of such devices is regulated in the sample hygiene plan for schools. Rooms that cannot be adequately ventilated should not be used for teaching.
External education providers for additional funding and support offers at schools should be won for the next school year, it said. The ministry will provide schools with a list to choose from according to school-specific needs and budget allocated. The schools would be informed shortly about their budget.
During the summer holidays, additional educational offers are planned in the form of projects that are basically open to everyone, especially as part of the holiday care for all-day schools. The planning was still ongoing. Numbers of participants for the additional offers during the holidays are not yet available.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210630-99-198164 / 2
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