How are other countries preparing to return to school?

After a few months with schools closed and distance learning, many countries have already announced guidelines for the return to in-person classes. Mask, no mask. Distance, no distance. There are many discrepancies, but there is one thing in common: everyone agrees that virtual school is an unsustainable regime - it is estimated that Covid-19 has affected more than 1.5 billion of students in the world. Each country is dealing with the pandemic differently and it is not yet known which is the most effective in terms of teaching. But in the meantime, many students have already started to return to classes. In this article we present some of the established standards.

SPAIN

The rules vary from region to region, but in general the use of a mask will only be mandatory if distancing is not observed. Students should sit one meter apart, without a mask, whenever possible. To meet this interval, it may be necessary to remove all non-essential furniture from the rooms or bring students together in alternative locations, such as laboratories or amphitheatres. Only as a last option, the use of a mask should be imposed during classes. 

However, in common spaces, such as corridors or dining rooms, the mask becomes mandatory. Physical education classes should be held outdoors whenever possible, and contact sports, such as basketball or football, avoided. If practiced, groups of students must remain the same throughout the school year. In music classes it will not be possible to share instruments. 

In Madrid, the rules are slightly different: when returning to school, scheduled for September, the use of a mask is not mandatory until the age of six; between six and 12, its use can be abandoned if the students are only with their usual contact group at school; From the age of 12, it will only be used in cases where it is not possible to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters. For teachers, the obligation depends on the teaching level and classroom conditions.

ITALY

In Italy, one of the countries most affected by Covid-19, the measures are not so liberal. In addition to hiring thousands of teachers, like Portugal, the Italian Ministry of Education ordered 3 million individual tables and benches, since the materials that now exist in many schools do not allow for the necessary physical distancing. However, there are fears that the new tables will not arrive in time for the start of classes in September, and some schools have already started to advance work: they are sawing the benches, transforming them into two individual ones.

masks are mandatory for the entire school community from the age of six — a measure that will be reevaluated before classes start — and teachers can use visors as an alternative .

Schools will have some autonomy to make decisions in each situation, which makes the measures adopted different in each educational establishment. Classes should be held outdoors whenever possible. They can also opt for mixed regimes, in which attendance at school is staggered and classes are transmitted online at the same time. Secondary schools are the ones that most concern the Ministry of Education and some already have plans to move forward with mixed teaching. 

ENGLAND

The return to face-to-face classes, at the beginning of September, is no longer optional and becomes mandatory for all students. The main measure to prevent the transmission of coronavirus is the creation of groups of students (classes or educational levels) and avoid as much as possible that they cross paths during the day, through of lag hours and frequent cleaning of spaces. 

Schools must also be in constant contact with health authorities, who will carry out tests whenever cases are suspected. The British government still has a major concern: public transport. It is necessary to reduce demand and increase supply, especially during peak hours. Schools have been asked to encourage teachers and students to walk or cycle to school whenever possible.

GERMANY

It was the first country in Europe to return to in-person teaching, opting for a phased return. The 2020/2021 school year began in August with the new measures already in place: the rules mean that young people do not have to wear a mask in the classroom - only when circulating in the corridors - nor comply with a minimum physical distancing. The students were divided by age group, either during breaks or in the cafeterias, avoiding crossovers between different classes and years. This way, if someone tests positive, it will not be necessary to close the entire school, just one class or one year will be isolated in quarantine.

As in Portugal, an investment of millions of euros was made in laptops for students with greater financial needs.

SCOTLAND

Scotland opted for a phased return, but by September 18th all schools must be operating at 100%. Some have chosen to welcome the youngest first and others are dividing students in alphabetical order. one-way corridors were also created to avoid intersections, so that students do not pass through the same place twice. Masks are not mandatory during classes and libraries and auditoriums have been transformed into classrooms to ensure distance between students. The elderly were only asked to avoid hugs, which is generating complaints from teachers. They must keep two meters away from students and wear a mask whenever they are near other teachers.

UNITED STATES

In the United States of America, the country that has recorded the most cases of Covid-19 so far, in some regions, classes have already resumed, although the number of outbreaks is not decreasing. The lack of rules to contain the pandemic in educational establishments led many students and teachers to the streets, demonstrating against the situation in the country. Teachers' preparation for the new school year involves investing in life insurance and some even made a will. In reality, they have a difficult choice ahead of them: work without guaranteed safety conditions or not work at all.

Despite the fact that in the last 15 days, the daily number of cases has been around 50 thousand (about 9 times more than in Portugal), students are not required to wear a mask not even social distancing.