Primary schools and childcare can open.

Primary schools and childcare can open.

Primary schools and childcare can open again from Monday 8 February. The cabinet follows the advice of the OMT with this decision. This was announced by the outgoing ministers Slob and Koolmees on Sunday, after the Catshuis meeting.

‘That is good news for the children, for the parents and for the teachers. Because for children it is of course best that they can just go back to school and get their lessons there. That they can be with their friends in the class, look their teacher in the eyes and also be kept on task by the teacher.’ Said minister Slob in a statement about the reopening of primary school and childcare.

Secondary schools

Secondary schools and after-school care (BSO’s) cannot reopen yet. Because according to the OMT opening them can lead to extra contacts and possible extra spread of the coronavirus.

Reason

According to the minister the main reason primary schools open is that it can be done safely. ‘We understand well that parents and teachers will also have concerns. It is therefore good to emphasize that the OMT considers it responsible that we take this step. Also the studies that have been done show that children contribute much less to the spread of the virus and that it is also the case with the British variant, and that they also get less sick from it.’

Consultation

On Monday there will be consultation with among others the PO council about how the lessons will look exactly. Possibly children will only have close contact with a fixed ‘buddy’ and/or there will be cohorts (half classes). Furthermore it is intended that all students in a class go into quarantine for five days if a classmate is infected. Rapid tests will be used for teachers. Also school children will now be included in the source and contact investigation by the GGD.

Next Tuesday prime minister Rutte and minister De Jonge will announce the details of the decision during a press conference.

Questions

For answers to questions about education during the corona period you can visit our FAQ page. But of course you can also contact our staff. By email: vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl or by phone: 088-6050101. We are available on weekdays between 09.30-12.30 and 13.00-16.00.