After Prime Minister Bettel announced the gradual steps of the national exit strategy on Wednesday, it was now time for the minister of education to step in front of the press and elaborate on the reopening of schools.
Meisch began his briefing by welcoming students, teachers, parents, and the press alike. He emphasised that although drastic measures had been taken at the beginning of the lockdown, he was very impressed with the levels of adaptation and solidarity, observable throughout the country.
As already announced on Wednesday by ministers Bettel and Lenert, schools in Luxembourg are set to reopen in phases. Meisch explained that not only would there be a gradual return to “normal”, but that classes would also be separated into two groups to reduce the number of students filling the institutions. This weekly rotation (one group in school one week, the other the next) is designed to allow students to receive direct attention from teachers and cover an extended work load at home.
Breaks will be adjusted to still give students a chance to catch their breath. Circulation in hallways will be reduced to a minimum however, and school cafeterias will remain closed all together. Physical education will not be held under the current safety regulations.
Important changes will also accompany school transportation. Masks will become mandatory for every student on their way to and from school, not once they have entered their classroom however. A pair of masks will thus be handed out to staff and students alike before the schools reopen.
The phased reopening of schools will start with Luxembourg’s senior students, who will begin their final examinations shortly thereafter, during the week of 25 May. Exams will thus take place as scheduled, but will see students distributed among several rooms to guarantee safety distances.
Next in line will be the remaining high school students, who will be able to return to their schools and see their friends in the week of 11 May. “It is extremely important to give children and young adults a chance to regain some aspects of their daily social lives”, Meisch explained.
The final phase will see primary schools, kindergartens and nurseries reopen in similar fashion during the week of 25 May.
Minister Meisch also took the opportunity to acknowledge that solutions still needed to be found for special needs students, as well as siblings of those considered vulnerable to the novel virus. He explained that classes would be recorded to assure the safety of those in need.
Meisch explained that it would not be possible for sports clubs to open their doors again at this point in time. However, music classes for individual students will be able to be taught again. Public playgrounds will remain closed.
