The proposals, based on strict systems used in Denmark and Norway to reopen nurseries, will need the go-ahead from a scientific committee.
The closure of schools until the end of the academic year has been one of the more controversial anti-coronavirus measures imposed in Italy, with many saying it overly penalises working women and children. The country has been one of the hardest hit by the virus, which has claimed over 28,000 lives so far. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has insisted that children carry a very high risk of contagion. Part of the reason for keeping schools closed is the risk of infecting vulnerable teachers.
Italy has the oldest teachers across OECD countries, with nearly 60 percent of them aged over 50.
But as the country prepares to ease lockdown measures, Conte said reopening nurseries may be possible on a trial, experimental basis.
The proposal is for micro-groups of between three and six children to attend in shifts. Their temperatures would be checked on entry and they would only be allowed to play with pre-sterilised toys, nothing brought from home.
The same children would attend each group each time. They would not wear masks, but the teachers would. Education minister Lucia Azzolina has said the playgrounds and gyms of primary and secondary schools could be used. The idea is for them to spend as much time outdoors as possible, the daily said.
‘Woods, museums, parks’
Patrizio Bianchi, who heads the committee of experts studying how to reopen schools in September, told the Repubblica daily the system would need to be revolutionised.
Over 8.5 million children and teens have been missing classes, and efforts to offer online schooling have been patchy and have skipped completely those in families without computers or Internet access.
Bianchi called for three billion euros to be spent each year for the next five years to restructure Italy’s crumbling school buildings and boost Internet connectivity to allow home study.
“Parents and students have told us they want a school for the times we live in,” he said in an interview. “One big national digital platform, dedicated entirely to schooling. It will be the basis of a new style of teaching.”
Under his plan, many lessons would move outdoors. “Trentino (in northern Italy) will have to exploit its woods, Milan its museums, Rome its parks,” he said.
India's consistent betrayal of promises to Kashmiris and blatant disregard for UNSC Resolutions on J&K…
ISLAMABAD/LONDON: One of Britain’s senior most and respected Consultant Paediatrician, Professor Abdul Rashid Gatrad…
Recently, the US has imposed sanctions on many corporations. Three of the 12 companies…
Growing up in New York with Pakistani roots, I’ve always been fascinated by the…
Karachi made history by hosting the world's largest half marathon, ONE RUN, for the first…
Pakistan faces a substantial challenge in meeting its growing energy demand. According to a report…
Leave a Comment