MoES develops principles for starting the new school year in person

For the new school year, the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) proposes organising the education process in accordance with several important principles that would make it possible to implement in-person education in safe educational institutions. Particular emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of vaccination and the responsibility of the head of an educational institution to independently make important decisions regarding the safe organisation of the education process.

Minister of Education and Science Anita Muižniece: “There is a little more than a month left until the new school year and, of course, in order to prepare in good time for the safe organisation of the learning process, school principals and teachers also have questions –  will the learning process be organised in person? I have always emphasised that the main prerequisite for obtaining a quality education is in-person learning; therefore, we have prepared proposals for ensuring in-person learning from 1 September.”

The proposals have been prepared using an individual approach for each sector, taking into account its specific features, target audience and other aspects, and will be based on four basic principles:

1. The principle of in-person education. The education process is organised in person, regardless of the cumulative incidence rate. In-person education is a prerequisite for ensuring a quality education process.
2. The principle of safe educational institutions. This means abandoning the regional principle currently enshrined in legislation, which provides for rules governing the conduct of the education process depending on the epidemiological situation in the relevant municipality. The principle of safe educational institutions provides that, if the situation at a particular educational institution is favourable, in-person learning may also be implemented when the region faces a high or very high epidemiological risk.
3. The principle of vaccination effectiveness. Employees of educational institutions who have been vaccinated work in person. Classes taught by vaccinated teachers also study in person, regardless of the cumulative incidence rate in the region or the country.
4. The principle of the autonomy of the founder/head of an educational institution. The founder/head of an educational institution is responsible for making decisions regarding the conduct of the education process – introducing a rotation system for class groups, setting and flexibly changing the start and end times of lessons, developing room-ventilation protocols, choosing a blended-learning model, conducting education outdoors, etc.

General education, international education and interest-related education

The aforementioned programmes are implemented in person, regardless of the cumulative incidence rate in the country, in compliance with all safety-protocol requirements and ensuring in particular: 

• the air quality and ventilation frequency stipulated by legislation;

• the necessary testing, in accordance with the situation at the particular educational institution (a quarantine period has occurred, several classes have fallen ill, etc.);
• maximum use of outdoor spaces in the education process as risk indicators rise;
• the choice of a rotation or blended-learning model.

In the event of very high risk, learning is conducted remotely, with the exception of preschool education programmes, special education classes and the social-correctional educational institution “Naukšēni”. Individual consultations for ninth- and twelfth-grade students are also conducted in person.

Higher education

Regardless of the cumulative incidence rate in the country, people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 infection participate in in-person studies at higher education institutions. When planning the study process, higher education institutions must take into account the legislation governing epidemiological safety, as well as their own safety protocols. Before studies begin, staff, students and cooperation partners must be familiarised with the safety protocol, which includes a comprehensive assessment of epidemiological risks.

In the event of a very high epidemiological risk, if restrictions on movement and visits to public places are also imposed, the study process is temporarily conducted remotely if this is stipulated by an external legislative act. At the same time, vaccinated and recovered persons are provided with in-person instruction in the practical components of vocational education programmes and regulated professions, subject to additional restrictions. Consideration is also being given to introducing remote learning in certain subjects as a component of the study process where this would significantly reduce epidemiological risk (e.g. holding lectures remotely).

Vocational education

The learning process is implemented in person to the maximum extent possible. Taking into account the epidemiological situation, no more than 15% of the learning content may be delivered remotely. If necessary, this may be increased to 40% (theoretical or general content), but no further. The practical component is learned in person. To reduce risks, restrictions on the number of learners or other additional epidemiological-safety measures may be introduced if necessary.

Sport

Sports training should take place both indoors and outdoors wherever possible, enabling athletes not only to train but also to participate in sports competitions. The size of training groups should also be determined depending on the cumulative incidence rate in the country, as well as the space to be provided per athlete during training and sports competitions, rules governing the use of changing rooms, ventilation requirements and, where necessary, restrictions on the duration of training sessions.

Youth work

People who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 infection, regardless of the cumulative incidence rate in the country, participate in youth work in person. Under all circumstances, including when the cumulative incidence rate is high, support must be provided to those young people who need it most. Meanwhile, when incidence in the country is low, young people who do not have a valid digital Covid-19 certificate may also participate in in-person activities, while observing the general basic principles of epidemiological safety and gathering restrictions. 

For the proposals to have legal force, they must still be drafted in the form of Cabinet regulations and adopted by the government. In parallel, work is under way to prepare “Recommendations for Organising the Learning Process”. The recommendations will help schools organise the learning process in person while complying with the specified safety requirements. It is envisaged that these documents will be considered by the government as soon as Cabinet meetings resume – in the first half of August.

The MoES proposals submitted to the government to ensure the operation of the sector in autumn can be reviewed in detail on the MoES website.

Author:

Ministry of Education and Science

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