Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1282292
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Coronavirus KURT SANSONE COVID-19 guidelines for schools are being finalised by the author- ities and will be published by Fri- day, Education Minister Owen Bonnici said. "The guidelines will be finalised in the coming hours and will then be discussed with all stakehold- ers… they will then be published on Friday," Bonnici told MaltaTo- day on Tuesday morning. He said the primary interest was to ensure that children received the best education and this was possible in the classroom. Bonnici said children could not afford to lose out on their educa- tion for another year but insisted the return to the classrooms will be done in a safe way. Schools closed last March when the coronavirus pandemic hit Malta and remained shut until the end of the scholastic year. However, as Malta reopened its economy in June, the government summer school, Skola Sajf, was held with stricter safety proto- cols to minimise the risk of virus spread. Responding to a call by the Un- ion of Professional Educators last week for children not to return to the classroom, Bonnici said dis- cussions will be held with the un- ion to explain the safety protocols that will be adopted. Bonnici insisted the govern- ment's priority was for schools to reopen and children to return to their classrooms. Children's Commissioner Paul- ine Miceli yesterday also made the same appeal, insisting that isolat- ing children at home was more problematic than the effects of the virus. She called on the authorities to organise schools in a safe way that would also allow children to receive an education in the class- room and be able to interact so- cially with peers. On Monday, the association of independent schools warned that reopening schools in September is only possible if the COVID-19 rate goes down. Malta has experienced a surge in cases since restrictions were lifted and the airport reopened earlier in the summer. New restrictive measures on mass events, nightclubs and bars were reintroduced a fortnight ago to curb the spread of infec- tion. The rules were tweaked to allow bars to remain open as long as people remained seated at their tables. Union won't allow education ministry to steamroll over educa- tors - MUT In a statement, the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) said that after it demanded that the government issue protocols so that everyone was prepared to handle every pos- sible scenario regarding the reo- pening of schools, it appeared that the ministry of education wanted to speed up the process and issue the protocols on Friday. The MUT said that during the meeting it had with the ministry yesterday, no mention was made of the protocols being published on Friday, so soon after discus- sions had begun. The MUT said that it so far had not seen the protocols, and argued that they should not be published without the input of educations; and that it was not possible for the ministry to publish guidelines overnight. "The way of learning during the school year has not yet been decided. The MUT, as the main representative of all educators, is going through its processes where it is consulting with everyone, in- cluding members and the Church and independent sectors. This is to ensure that the voice of educa- tors is taken into account at every stage," the union said. The MUT said it would not al- low the ministry to steamroll over educators. The union is adamant that it will not discuss protocols in a hurried manner, especially if decisions had already been taken. "The MUT is ready to take all necessary measures to protect the interests and health and safety of educators and students." COVID-19 guidelines for schools being finalised, Owen Bonnici says INDEPENDENT private schools in Malta have sounded a warning that un- less the reproductive rate of COVID-19 infections is reduced, the reopening of schools could be impossible by the end of September. The Independent Schools Associa- tions added its voice to the voice to the concerns of professional bodies, parents and students about the critical impor- tance of reducing the RT factor in the coming weeks. "This is crucial if there is to be any real possibility for schools to reopen in Malta. It is the primary re- sponsibility of government to issue and monitor the necessary restrictions, and of all citizens and entities to fully com- ply." The ISA said it had been working to create alternative scenarios for the schools' reopening. "Up to the end of July, these plans were in place for this by all schools. However, the unexpect- ed spike in COVID-19 cases in the first half of August has forced all Schools to re-evaluate those plans." The ISA said any school reopening can only occur only when the RT fac- tor and COVID-19 transmission rate is descreased. "It is only by responding to the current spike in proactive, respon- sible and effective ways that we will be able to enjoy the return to physical schooling." The ISA also said it has not yet received guidelines from the National Authori- ties on the reopening of schools. "We are now out of time and the guidelines need to be issued immediately so that all schools in Malta can prepare effec- tively for the next academic year." The guidelines will have to stipulate whether physical distancing is recom- mended in classrooms, transport con- siderations and the composure of clus- ters, the ISA said. "Otherwise, schools may have to take their own decisions on how to proceed." Independent schools warning: reopening in September only possible if COVID-19 rate goes down Education minister Owen Bonnici says children cannot afford to lose out on their education for another year 38 new cases of COVID-19 have been registered over- night, according to the lat- est figures released by the Health Ministry. The ministry said that yes- terday's cases were still be- ing investigated. From yesterday's cases, nine were family members of previously known cases, five were a direct contact of known cases, eight were work colleagues of positive cases, two cases were im- ported and six were con- tacts from social gatherings. 52 more people have since recovered from the virus. The number of active cases now stands at 666. Since the start of the pan- demic in March, 1,029 peo- ple have recovered from the virus and ten patients have died. In the past 24 hours, 2,048 swab tests were carried out. With a grand total of 177,518 tests having been carried out so far on the is- land. 38 new cases of COVID-19 registered • 52 patients have recovered • Active cases now stand at 666