Back to school
Educators returned to 107 state schools across the country for the start of the 2020/21 scholastic year, a government statement read yesterday, “following the implementation of more than 50 measures in the past weeks and after a risk assessment was conducted in all schools.”
Teachers entered state schools for the first time in the scholastic year on Monday in preparation to receive students, which will happen next week after being pushed back over the weekend. The Union of Professional Educators issued a statement mere hours after they opened, highlighting a number of issues.
Some private schools opened their doors to welcome students on Monday, but students who attend state schools and church schools will have to wait another week before going back to the classroom.
“The risk assessments of each and every state school were concluded by independent risk assessors on the OHSA register, who certified all these schools as being in line with the protocols set by the Health Authorities and that these have been completely implemented,” Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici said during a visit to the Valletta Primary School.
“This reflects work that began with the closure of schools last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the help and through discussions with all stakeholders in the sector, which led to educators returning to their workplace today,” he said.
During his visit, Minister Bonnici met with the Principal, the
Head of the School and with the educators, and discussed with them their first day back at school and the measures which were implemented. “The measures also apply for the return of the students who will return over a period of not more than one week, starting from the 7th October, 2020, until the 14th October, when all students will be back to school. There are various measures in place which start at the school gate, where the temperature of those authorised to enter the schools is taken and hand sanitisers are used upon entering. Measures range from the distance between the chairs of the educators to those of the students, to protocols to be taken both in common spaces, educators’ meetings and the wearing of masks and/or visors.”
At the entrance of every school, a security officer will ensure that all those entering the building adhere to the protocols.
During this week, until the students start school, the educators will be engaged with preparations to start welcoming the students for this scholastic year starting on the 7th of October.
The Union of Professional Educators (UPE) however, has spoken out about the situation, and said that there is “a state of panic” within state schools due to the lack of preparation for the new scholastic year.
The UPE said that it has been receiving reports from its members that the first day of school has been “characterised by panic due to the state of unpreparedness in which state schools are found.”
“Reports have comprised of complaints of alleged dirty classrooms and chaotic setups. Staffrooms are crammed with desks going completely against the social distancing protocols. In one particular case, a room, that is supposed to host a maximum of 6 adults with social distancing in mind, has been reported to be hosting 30 educators,” the UPE said.
They said that teachers have been given new time-tables again, thus rendering all the planning they have done to date redundant.
“Furthermore, several reports were received from LSEs claiming that, while seating arrangements were made to cater for students and the teachers, no such arrangement was contemplated for LSEs,” the union said.
They noted that internet connections have also been reported as being extremely unstable and added that educators have not been in a position to connect to platforms to continue with their work.
“All of this was reported within just the first few hours of school,” they said.
The UPE said that it is keeping a watchful eye on the current situation and is calling on the Minister to get things sorted out as soon as possible so as to ensure a safe and adequate working environment for staff.
The union said that it is calling upon its members to report any unsafe conditions going against the established protocols and to support such reports with photographic evidence so that these issues can be flagged with the Education Ministry.