Host of EU countries delay return to school amid rising Covid cases

Madrid Desk, Jan 10 (efe-epa).- Countries across Europe are delaying students’ return to school by extending the Christmas holidays due to rising infection rates, although France and Belgium are among those that are allowing children to return to classrooms, albeit under certain conditions.

UK

The United Kingdom has closed primary and secondary schools, except for vulnerable students or children of essential workers, and cancelled most exams amid a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

When it imposed a lockdown earlier this year, the British government mandated online teaching in England until at least mid-February. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have done the same but will review the decision at different dates.

Exams, even those for university access, have been cancelled and replaced by continuous evaluation of the student through controls and coursework, but, in the absence of a guide of minimums, teachers warn that the system may result in disparities of criteria.

GERMANY

Children will not return to school as planned on Monday because of the uncontrolled spread of coronavirus.

Classrooms will stay shut at least until January 31.

Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the heads of the 16 regional governments took the decision on Tuesday, when they agreed to maintain all the current restrictions until the end of the month and even to tighten some of them.

Education Minister Anja Karliczek described these measures as “simply necessary” and stressed that it is “important” not to immediately resume face-to-face classes because this contributes to limiting interpersonal contacts.