Due to the large increase in infections by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, there were doubts about what measures were going to be taken for students to return to school in Spain on January 10. The Ministry of Health has reported that the return to classrooms will be fully face-to-face and that prevention and communication measures against the coronavirus will be reinforced, insisting on the use of a mask during breaks, cross ventilation and bubble groups. In addition, isolations in positive cases and quarantines in close contacts without a complete vaccination schedule will be maintained for now, until a next meeting, although their period is reduced from ten to seven days.
This measure has been agreed upon at the extraordinary meeting of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) together with the Sector Conference on Education and the General Conference on University Policy. All have underlined the importance of maintaining face-to-face classes during the pandemic, always maintaining the control measures imposed against COVID-19, such as the use of masks and ventilation, indicating that it has been a success at all educational levels.
Carolina Darias, Minister of Health of Spain, explained that with the agreement reached by the autonomous communities and cities and the Government, the mandate of President Pedro Sánchez is fulfilled after the Conference of Presidents, in which he stated that he should “guarantee attendance in the classrooms so that our boys, girls and young people can fully develop”.
Only 12 schools closed due to COVID-19
The decision has been made taking into account that the data on infections in the classrooms of the non-university education system were kept under control during the previous school year, specifically with a number of classrooms in quarantine below 0.5%. However, the increase in cases of the omicron variant has also been assessed, which, as indicated, reached its highest peak on December 22, 2021, in which 1.3% of the classrooms were in quarantine, which that supposes 5,433 classes of about 417,000.
“Closing schools implies a huge loss in learning and puts at risk the psychological well-being and emotional health of children and adolescents”
In addition, they emphasize that in that period only 12 schools had to be closed due to outbreaks of COVID-19, which represents 0.04% of the total number of educational centers in the country. Darias has insisted that the best measure to fight this coronavirus is vaccination, which is why, he explains, it is so important to continue vaccination in all age groups.
“Despite the epidemiological situation caused by the omicron variant of the coronavirus and the logical concern that it raises, the return to class on the scheduled date and with strict compliance with the prevention protocols already known (both inside and outside the classrooms) It is the best option for schoolchildren, for families and for the educational community as a whole, because closing schools – we already know this after 21 months of the pandemic – implies an enormous loss in learning and puts psychological well-being and the emotional health of children and adolescents. This is confirmed by recent studies by the World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF”, declared Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education.
Attendance also in university education
In the university field, the importance of face-to-face attendance when returning to classes has also been stressed. On the other hand, the concern about the call for exams has been clarified under the premise that no one will miss the call due to contagion or confinement due to COVID-19.
No university student will miss a call due to contagion or confinement due to COVID-19
Joan Subirats, Minister of Universities, indicated that the implementation of existing protocols against SARS-CoV-2 must be intensified, as well as communication channels with university students. In addition, it adds that “as the experts have indicated, the contagions that occur in the age group corresponding to the university community are not taking place in the university itself but outside it, thus reaffirming the certainty of that classrooms are, in general terms, safe spaces”.
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