Although the recording of classes was organized during August as a backup plan in case of unfavorable epidemiological conditions, there will be no online classes in September because it is extremely important for the beginning of the school year that children physically attend classes.
This is what the Ministry of Education told "Vijesta" when asked why, in accordance with the back-up plan that they said existed earlier, they did not decide to organize classes remotely in September.
Minister Damir Šehović previously said in an interview with "Vijesta" that the Department of Education is preparing for the regular start of the school year, but also for several alternative scenarios. Two days ago, however, the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) announced that the start of the school year was postponed to October 1.
The Department of Education told "Vijesta" yesterday that there was no obstacle to online classes starting in September.
"However, taking into account that physically going to school is extremely important for certain classes, especially at the beginning of the school year, and that, according to the Institute for Public Health (IJZ), epidemiological conditions carry a risk for such a start, it was deemed more expedient that the school year for all students, postpone it for a month, in order to possibly create more favorable epidemiological conditions, and use the online teaching model as a last option, at least when it comes to the very beginning of school," the answer reads.
The Ministry of Education did not answer how they are preparing for the beginning of the school year and what has been done so far in this regard. They reiterated that the Institute for Public Health (IJZ) and representatives of the education system are working on defining clear recommendations based on which the method of organizing teaching in schools will be explained in detail.
The representative of the parents of the Elementary School "Lovćenski partisanski odred" from Cetinje, Slavko Šole Janković, assessed yesterday that the decision to postpone the start of the school year to October harms the students and will have long-term consequences for the children.
"How can we explain that our children are allowed to celebrate their birthdays in playrooms, to play in parks every day, to be on playgrounds, to go with their parents to tourist centers, and that they will not be able to finally start learning with their friends and their teaching staff and they are educated in the only correct way - in their classrooms", announced Janković.
He said that he agrees that the health of children is the most important thing.
"However, how can we explain that we, as their parents, visit catering establishments every day, and that in 10 days we will go to the polls and that this is all normal, and that this does not endanger the health of our children", Janković said.
Classes in the region will also start in the classic way, and some countries have already prepared recommendations for the beginning of the school year in September.
Authorities in Croatia, according to the media, have completed the recommendations for children up to the fourth grade of primary school, and classes should start on September 7 in classrooms. As announced, the measures will be announced on August 31. The youngest will probably not need to wear protective masks.
In Serbia, lower classes will attend classes in the morning shift, and higher classes in the afternoon. Classes will be shortened to 30 minutes, and all classes with more than 15 students will be divided into two groups. It will be mandatory to wear protective masks in schools.
Yesterday, the Institute's laboratories discovered another 42 cases of Covid-19, among the 570 analyzed samples. 15 positive samples were sent from Podgorica, nine from Bijelo Polje, six from Nikšić, four from Rožaj, two from Budva, one each from Kolašin, Pljevlja, Tivat and Cetinje.
"Since the last section, there have been no deaths reported to the Institute. The total number of deaths related to Kovid-19 since the beginning of June is 71, and since the beginning of the year 80", announced the IJZ.
They said that the recovery of 92 patients was reported. The total number of active cases of the new coronavirus was 967 yesterday.
Yesterday, there were 116 patients in hospitals with confirmed Covid-19. The Beran hospital announced that 37 patients are being treated in that institution. It was reported that five have a severe clinical picture, while three patients are on high doses of oxygen.
Yesterday, 17 patients with the confirmed presence of the virus were treated at the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG), three of whom are life-threatening. KCCG announced that two patients were intubated and connected to invasive, and one to non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
Young professors without another salary
Yesterday, the coalition "Black and White" assessed that postponing the start of the school year is a bad decision for young educators, who are employed on a fixed-term basis. They reminded that many of them sign a work contract for nine to 10 months, from September to June.
"Then, in September of the following year, they sign a fixed-term contract again, and so the cycle repeats itself. In this way, the state "saves" - deducting two salaries from educators. What will this mean for them now when they will not receive their salary for another month", announced Milica Kankaraš
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