SCHOOLS TO STAY CLOSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14

 Cyprus Mail 5 September 2020 - by Peter Michael

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou

The opening of schools was delayed for a week to September 14 instead of September 7 due to a heatwave gripping the island  that is expected to last into next week, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou announced on Friday.

He said the decision was taken after meetings held with teachers’ unions, parents’ groups, and other education officials, where they discussed the extremely high temperatures expected for the week ahead, coupled with coronavirus protocols that includes mask-wearing in uncomfortable heat.

Masks are mandatory for all children over the age of 12.

“We are making this decision due to the high temperatures, the humidity, and dust levels in the atmosphere” he said.

Referring to the first day back, Prodromou said students would go to school at 9:30am, instead of 7:45am, and they will be given briefings from their teachers on the coronavirus protocols, and an informational packet on the measures will be given to the parents.

Secondary school students will also be assigned to their classes and be given their books.

Nursery school students will also be taken to schools at 9:30am, he added.

Asked about the possibility of students wearing face shields instead of masks, he said it was impossible for students to wear shields, but teachers would be able to under special circumstances.

Students in secondary school will be required to wear face masks in all indoor spaces of the school, as per prior decisions made on the matter.

Prodromou had a series of meetings earlier in the day, to discuss the original opening day of schools.  However, the teachers’ unions and parents’ groups came with an alternate proposal to delay school opening, leading Prodromou to hold meetings with former education ministers on the matter, as well as the labour and health ministers.

After the first meeting with the unions and parents, Prodromou said they also discussed the issue of providing air-conditioning.

“It is well-known that a discussion is being had about putting air-conditioning in schools, but a decision has not been made up until now, and there was no plan to do so, nor was there a practical capability of having them,” he said.

He added there was also a question of practicality to answer on the air-conditioning, since one of the main protocols says spaces should always be aerated, necessitating windows and doors being open.

Prodromou also said the education ministry would be running phone lines for teachers and parents to answer questions on the coronavirus protocols.

The help lines for queries from parents, guardians and the general public are; primary education 22800800; secondary schools and technical schools 22800755;

For teachers, the ministry’s help lines are; primary education 22800756, and secondary schools and technical schools 22800772.

“There will be immediate responses to questions, concerns, or in case it is necessary to report incidents to the ministry,” he said.

He added: “It is important we have the cooperation of everybody, the parents and of course the teachers, so we can give the children seamless education that is necessary.”

Earlier, the secondary school students’ parents’ group had sent a letter to the minister, saying the high temperatures forecast for the week would make conditions difficult.

Cyprus has been in the grip of a heat wave the past week. Temperatures are expected to start easing from Saturday but will remain above the seasonal average over the next few days.

In their letter, the parents said that children with respiratory problems as well as other pupils obliged to wear masks in classrooms with no air conditioning might have difficulties breathing.

The association urged the minister to review the situation and to delay the start of the new school year for two or three days if conditions are deemed unsafe.