The Italian school, in fact, has already reopened its doors. For a few days, in fact, remedial exams have already been underway for thousands of students. The inauguration of the 2020/21 school year will be held in Vo 'Euganeo on 14 September in the presence of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. A targeted choice as the Venetian town, last winter, represented one of the first outbreaks regarding the pandemic emergency from Covid-19.
The school and the health emergency
According to government regulations and the Scientific Technical Committee, a mask must not be worn between the benches if the distance of one meter is respected. “We all work together and hand the schools back to our students: the country will be grateful to us. We have a great historical responsibility. It will be a tough year. But also the beginning of a different path.
We will have the resources fromEurope with which to build the school of tomorrow, starting with the teachings of these months. We have the ideas and the courage to make them happen ”. Like this the minister of Education, Lucia Azzolina, in a letter sent to teachers, principals and all school staff in view of the reopening of the school.
Four key measures to reduce the risk of contagion
There are four basic measures for reducing the risk of contagion in school environments. Give her basic hygiene rules distancing, specific policies for at-risk children with learning needs or special health conditions, as well as for teachers with health conditions that make them vulnerable to more serious infections. Promoted online teaching in particular situations. To sign them in the joint declaration l'WHO and the Minister of Health.
In particular, it is specified, "it is realistic to prepare and plan the availability of online learning to integrate school learning in the next school year". Distance lessons are necessary in the event of temporary closures, or during episodic quarantine. And, again, in cases where children alternate school attendance to respect the needs of physical distancing in smaller classrooms ".
The management of any cases or outbreaks
The Higher Institute of Health has drawn up a document for the management of cases and outbreaks of Covid-19 among the schools. In this regard, it was concluded that a single case will not be enough to close the school. The local health company will evaluate whether to prescribe quarantine to all students of the same class and to any exposed school operators, identified as close contacts in the last 48 hours.
Each school must appoint a Covid-19 contact person, who acts as an intermediary with the health authorities and is trained on the procedures to be followed. Cases of symptomatic pupils will be reported to the referent. Furthermore, its task will be to check for 'high absences' (above 40 percent) of students in each single class.
The school and the new anti-contagion spaces
The canteen service will be ensured by providing different shifts between classes. In schools where the canteen rooms are not available or are 'converted' into spaces intended to accommodate groups / sections for ordinary teaching activities, the meal can be eaten in the classroom. In this case, the ventilation and sanitation of the rooms and furnishings used before and after eating the meal must be guaranteed. In addition, 330 million euros were allocated for the adaptation and adaptation of spaces and classrooms, according to the new anti-Covid security provisions.
The desks
The new counters will be supplied by 11 companies, 7 Italian and 4 foreign from the European Union. By the end of October, all the new desks requested, almost 2,5 million, will arrive, starting from the schools in the areas where the infection is highest. In addition, new banks were purchased individually from some institutes thanks to the loans received with the Relaunch Decree.
Help desk
The service of Help desk to which schools can contact for any clarification. The service is active from Monday to Saturday, from 9 to 13 and from 14 to 18. The number is 800903080. It should also be noted that the serological tests for school staff have already started but the exam is optional. The whole of Italy, therefore, is preparing for this new challenge: guarantee maximum safety to students, teachers and school workers after the terrible phase of the lockdown. After months of distance learning, the school resumes lessons in person, equipping itself on all fronts against the pandemic of the XNUMXst century.
