Next week starts the second examination period for high school students, President of OELMEK Kostas Hadjisavas said, in a statement to CNA, adding that there are some pending issues regarding the students' schedule. He also noted that the organisation maintains its reservations about the test to stay.
"We expect the Ministry of Education to move forward as soon as possible, so that it can find some solutions to prevent students from having two classes on the same day," he said.
He said the organization is in communication with the Ministry of Education, adding that "there are some suggestions and we have also informed the Ministry of Education that we are not negative to some specific suggestions in order to facilitate the children but also to have some decompression in the high schools during this difficult period, especially next week."
Health measure test to stay
Asked how they judge the implementation of the test to stay measure so far and health protocols in general, Hajisavas said the issue of the pandemic continues to exist.
"Health protocols are being implemented and certainly for these to be implemented, too many tasks are being shouldered by teachers related to nursing duties," he said. The health measure "test to stay" is also applied, he added.
I must say, he noted, "that at least as far as the procedure is concerned, there seems to be no problem in terms of the requirements that originally existed for teachers to take on this task as well."
This measure, Mr. Hajisavas, is applied to schools that the Ministry of Health selects, primary and secondary schools.
"It starts at 7 and ends by 8 and there is a recommendation especially for secondary schools that students there should go from 7 to 7.30 so that they do not lose any more teaching time," he explained.
We see, he said, "that teachers are not involved."
We see, he said, "that teachers are not involved. It was, he added, "one of our requests and I stress it in terms of the process because they (teachers) have really reached their limits now and they can't handle more tasks especially in matters related to the implementation of health protocols."
As he said, but for the measure in general on the substance, "as an organization we maintain our reservations and our concerns since this issue has to do with health issues and we see that every night from the announcements of the Ministry of Health that the students ,the close contacts, when the rapid test is done, a number of children arise, which at the end of the day, develop into cases."
"For example, as we have just seen in a test of about 2,100 close contacts of pupils, and it seems to be for primary and secondary school children - 28 cases emerged," he said. As a consequence, he added, "our concerns are confirmed in the sense that these children have been freely circulating in schools for the past 48 hours and therefore there is this risk of spreading the virus to their classmates, to their teachers and above all to those with serious health problems."
Wide-ranging meeting on Monday
Mr. Hadjisavas also said that next Monday, at 3 p.m., there will be a broad meeting at the Ministry of Finance, where the Ministers of Health and Education will be present and educational organizations, Parents' Confederations, etc.
"We will also submit some questions, some queries or some suggestions there and then we will see what will emerge," he said.
The position of OELMEK and as teachers in general, he noted, "is yes, the operation of our schools, but above all safety and health, without the slightest discount on health issues and we see that from the many efforts really of teachers, especially those who are responsible for the tracking process, a tremendous amount of work is being done and I must say that is due in huge part to the fact that our schools are operating normally , yes absent students-, by the tasks that have been undertaken by fellow teachers."
The President of OELMEK said they are hopeful that there will be a reduction in cases and that the school year will end with the best results.
"There are certainly a number of students who are currently absent from schools either because they are cases or because they are close contacts and they choose to stay at home rather than implement this health measure test to stay. They have the right to do so."
Source: KYPE
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
