Government, church postpone schools reopening by a week; set up staggered return

The Government and the Curia has postponed the reopening of their schools by a week and will be staggering the return of students over seven days so as to allow for a smooth transition.

A staggered approach will be taken to assure a smooth transition back to school and for educators to continue with their preparations, the Education Ministry said in a statement.

To this end, children and students attending compulsory education in State Schools will not start schooling on 30 September, 2020 but instead they will start schooling on different dates, according to their year group, over a period of not more than one week starting from 7 October, 2020.

Therefore, while the first day of school will be different according to the respective year group, by 14 October, all students will be back to school.

Parents and custodians were to receive detailed information to this end from the respective schools.

In a separate statement, the Curia said it will also postpone the reopening of schools by a week.

It has been decided, the Curia said, that educators working in Church Schools are to return at their respective school on the dates previously established by each school. Until students return to school, educators are to familiarise themselves with the protocols to be adopted and continue with their preparation and training for the scholastic year.

The management of each school will give instructions regarding these days and will devise a plan on how students will be returning to school between 7 and 14 October.

Online teaching and learning is not permitted up to 6 October. This is in conformity with the direction issued by the Ministry for Education and Employment and the MUT. The Secretariat for Catholic Education regrets the inconvenience caused during this challenging time. It hopes that this decision which is being taken to ensure the health and safety of those involved, will be of benefit to all, the Curia said.

In a statement three days before schools were set to reopen amid concerns by teachers and parents, the Education Ministry acknowledged that COVID-19 led to the greatest disruption in education, but “we must continue the educational journey for all students in class at this important juncture.”

The guidelines for the re-opening of schools issued by the health authorities, after consultation with the Ministry for Education and Employment and other social partners on the 2nd of September 2020, declare that it is imperative that schools reopen for the next scholastic year. Children should return to their education during the coronavirus outbreak, as students are likely to suffer from the greatest harm if they do not attend to school.

“We are committed to re-open our schools,” the ministry said.

“In the past weeks and months, we made sure that all measures prescribed in the guidelines for the re-opening of schools are adhered to. We decided that, before the re-opening of schools, independent risk assessors – registered with OHSA – inspect each and every school to certify whether prescribed measures were successfully implemented in each school. We did that to make sure that all measures prescribed by the health authorities were undertaken for the benefit of all students, educators, parents and employees in schools. We appeal for the co-operation of all those involved so that all measures are adhered to at all times.”

As has been already declared, educators will return to school on 28 September 2020.

The ministry said that parents and custodians have been given the liberty to choose whether to send their children to school. They will only need to inform the school with their respective decision. Everyone’s decision will be respected and during the scholastic year prerecorded lessons on the internet (online) will be made available.

During the period between 30 September and the 13th October, the Foundation for Educational Services will be extending its ‘Bridge Holidays’ service between 7am and 2:30pm free of charge in all its centres. At the same time, as has been already declared, as from the 30th September, the Foundation for Educational Services will be also offering in its centres the Club 3-16 service from 2:30pm until 6pm.

MUT reaction

The MUT noted the statement by the Ministry for Education about the postponement of the re-opening of schools for students. The MUT had requested the postponement to enable schools to adjust to the demands brought about by the protocol and to give sufficient time to sort pending issues.

The MUT welcomed the decision on the staggering of student intake. This has been requested by the MUT during the meetings held in the past weeks. Staggering shall enable schools to control better the implementation of the protocol and to adjust the practices being adopted to safeguard the health and safety of educators and students.

The period when educators shall be reporting at schools prior to the intake of students shall serve so that educators continue their preparations for this scholastic year, particularly those of a curricular and pedagogical nature. The implementation of the protocol shall impact the work of educators and hence preparations and coordination is necessary. In this sense the MUT’s role will be essential so that specific issues within schools are identified by members in order to be addressed. For this aim later today the MUT will issue an online form to be filled in by members in which they will be encouraged to send their feedback.

Consequently next week the MUT shall be monitoring the ongoings and shall be assisting schools and members in ensuring that schools adopt the requested health and safety measures. The union shall also be flagging shortcomings to be addressed prior to the intake of students. The MUT has just communicated with respective employers in church and independent schools to request similar adjustment.

The MUT reiterated its call for the Government takes concrete actions to control the pandemic. The MUT had made the request repeatedly in the past weeks and this was also the spirit of the discussion with social partners during the MCESD meeting. The request was also made by MUT during the meeting with the Government earlier this week.

Finally, the MUT would like to assure its members that the Union will be with them during this difficult time for all and will do its utmost to continue protecting the health and safety of educators, students and everyone.