The school year will finally start with in-person classes on all the islands. This is what was decided at the Canary Islands Government Council held this Thursday, as the regional Executive understands that "classes can start safely as the appropriate measures have been adopted to ensure this."
This was stated by the Executive's spokesperson, Julio Pérez, during the press conference after the Government Council, in which the Minister of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports, Manuela Armas, also participated.
Classes will begin in the Archipelago on September 15 for the second cycle of Early Childhood Education and Primary Education, although in Lanzarote it will be a day later, as the 15th is a holiday. On the other hand, Secondary and Baccalaureate will begin on September 16, and Vocational Training and other education on the 17th.
In addition, it has been announced that in areas with a higher incidence of coronavirus, PCR tests will be performed on both bubble groups and teachers. In this regard, they have stated that "in principle, the tests will be carried out in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Arrecife during the next week," to "identify asymptomatic people in order to control the appearance of possible outbreaks as soon as possible and carry out a control of the virus in areas considered strategic."
During her speech, Manuela Armas highlighted "the importance of continuing the teaching activity, due to the impact it has, at a didactic and social level, on children and young people." "The role played by in-person school in childhood and adolescence is irreplaceable, as it more effectively ensures the educational process. After six months, it is necessary for students to be back in contact with their teachers, so that they can closely assess the possible educational deficiencies resulting from confinement and support them in their learning process," the regional government states.
In addition, they add that "from the point of view of equity, education compensates for the inequality of opportunities derived from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and it is a place of coexistence where students learn to relate to their peers and to be responsible to adults who are not their relatives, as well as being an important space to resume contact with their classmates."
Armas indicated that the Canary Islands has strategies to "minimize the risk" against Covid-19 and that "it is prepared to act in case infections may arise." In this regard, she detailed that there is a protocol prepared by experts with prevention and organization measures adapted to each educational stage and that cover the multiple circumstances related to Covid-19 that may occur in the classroom or outside it. In addition, each center has its own contingency plan and a Covid manager to enable the early detection of cases and the proper management of these. "Educational centers are no less safe than any other social space; on the contrary, a battery of measures supported by specialists has been launched, the compliance of which will be supervised by teachers," Armas added.
