The Minister of Education of the Canary Islands Government, Manuela Armas, warned this Monday that with the current Covid-19 data in the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and El Hierro - contagion rate per 100,000 inhabitants - schools could not reopen their doors if the return to classes were today, by sanitary recommendation.
In an appearance before the parliamentary Education committee to discuss the start of the course, she supported the statements of the Canarian president, Ángel Víctor Torres, who this Monday stated that on September 10 it will be decided whether the school year starts normally or with restrictions in the archipelago five days later.
"The pandemic is not controlled by the president, the King of Spain, or the Pope. The decision will be made on the 10th, it's logical, I don't know what improvisation or nonsense they find," she snapped at the deputies critical of the school year design.
Temperature taking in classrooms and more teachers and cleaning
Armas highlighted the "great role" played by the Canary Islands Government in designing a protocol for returning to classes designed by the Ministry of Health with the support of Education and, although she specified that "no one is free from the virus", she maintained that all necessary measures have been put in place to minimize risks.
The Minister commented that the objective is to achieve face-to-face attendance in all educational cycles - with double shifts in the afternoon where necessary - emphasizing that in Secondary school the distance of 1.5 meters will be maintained and in Infant and Primary school the 'bubble' units will be chosen, with all students wearing masks. In addition, there will be staggered recesses with parceled spaces and screens in the dining rooms to isolate the 'bubble' groups.
The Minister also pointed out that parents cannot take their children to school if they have a fever and that each student's temperature will be taken upon arrival in the classroom, always insisting on the ventilation of all spaces and hand washing five times a day.
From the labor point of view, she commented that more teachers will be hired for quarterly periods, 400 dining room assistants and reinforcements for the cleaning teams, which will come from the employment plans signed with the town councils.
She also commented that if there are no extracurricular activities - which depend on the town councils - students can stay in the center for late pick-up.
School transport contract saved
Armas also acknowledged that it is "interesting" to have nurses in the centers to coordinate Covid-19 cases but pointed out that there is no availability in the labor market, and although she understands that families are "scared" about the start of the course, she recalled that attendance is mandatory.
Regarding the possibility of using municipal spaces as classrooms, she commented that there are practically none near the educational centers and with possibilities of being transformed to give classes. "And we are not going to have a teacher traveling by car from one place to another when leaving a class," she stressed.
Regarding the school transport service, she commented that an extension agreement has been reached - 132 routes were affected for 4 million euros - after a negotiation with the businessmen because the contract was "onerous" for the Ministry, given that if it suspended the service, 75% had to be paid, and the daily cost is around 24,000 euros.
Regarding digital education if there are new confinements, she commented that 'tablets' have been acquired with the support of public and private institutions and with their own cards so as not to depend on the domestic internet network, apart from the fact that next week an agreement will be signed with Google to use a virtual platform.
The proponent of the appearance, Beatriz Calzada (CC), has accused the Canary Islands Government of spending five months "looking to Madrid, in silence so as not to disturb and putting the ball on the roof of the centers". She has warned of the "unease and concern" of families about the start of the course and the risk of "school absenteeism" due to the lack of legal certainty, while lamenting that the ratios per classroom are not lowered nor is digital education prepared.
Vidina Espino (Cs) has demanded the reduction of the ratios to 15 students and has asked if "really" there is no money to hire the 3,000 teachers that are needed and thus "preserve the health" of the educational community.
The beginning of the course is a "chaos" according to the PP
Melodie Mendoza (ASG) has highlighted that the Canary Islands Government is working to ensure that the return to classrooms is safe, has asked the Ministry to give "detailed information" to families and warned that the deployment of digital education "is an unprecedented challenge".
Manuel Marrero, spokesperson for Sí Podemos, has said that face-to-face attendance must be "combined" with safety, lower student ratios, look for alternative spaces to give classes and set future restrictions by centers or areas depending on the incidence of the pandemic.
Carmen Hernández (NC) has asked that the pandemic not be used politically as the return to schools is a necessity to guarantee quality education, the socialization of students and combat inequalities.
For the Popular Group, Lorena Hernández has described the start of the school year as "chaos", with "concern" from families, without nurses in the centers to coordinate cases of coronavirus and a school transport contract signed at the last minute "and with the noose around their necks".
Ana González (PSOE) has valued the work carried out by the Ministry during the month of August to guarantee the reopening of schools and the increase in personnel, for which she has asked the opposition to "pull their weight".
