School resumes after the winter holidays break

Pupils return to classrooms on January 9, with health safety recommendations in place to prevent the spread of the flu virus

Roxana Vasile, 09.01.2023, 14:00

The winter holidays are over, so starting Monday
pupils have returned to schools and nursery schools. According to the calendar
adopted by the Education Ministry, the current school year is divided into five
modules followed by 5 holidays. The next holiday can be planned by school
inspectorates in the February 6-26 period. Beyond strictly administrative
details, the top concern is the current epidemiological context. Last week the
Health Ministry declared a state of epidemiological alert in the context of
large numbers of flu infection. Jointly with the Education Ministry, the Health
Ministry also issued a series of recommendations designed to prevent the spread
of the virus in schooling units.

School managers need to inform parents or
legal guardians regarding the symptoms of flu and other respiratory infections
in order to help conduct epidemiological triage upon entering schools. Parents
are asked to keep their children home if they display related symptoms and
refer to their family physicians or pediatric specialists. A daily triage will
be performed on a daily basis at the start of each school shift. Triage will be
performed on observation basis in units that do not employ medical staff,
whereas those that do can perform the triage with their help. Hand and surface
sanitizers must be made available in every unit, in addition to ensuring
periodical ventilation of classrooms and instructing children regarding
sanitary etiquette for coughing and sneezing.

The Education Ministry has called
on school inspectors to help keep schools open and focus on prevention.
Minister Ligia Deca pointed out that the ministry encourages continuous class
participation. After two years of pandemic, it is important to keep up the pace
and ensure high levels of class attendance, the Romanian official added. We
recall Romania did not have the best experience with online classes during the
COVID pandemic. For this reason, in the context of growing numbers of
infections with flu and other seasonal viruses, it is advisable all children
are provided with access to education. In the event they display symptoms
associated with respiratory infections, they should be isolated at home and
subsequently catch up with school curricula. (VP)