Unless there is a drastic increase in morbidity data, 5th-6th and 11th-12th graders will arrive at schools on November 15 • Middle Schools will remain at home for the time being • 1st-2nd graders will return to school without capsules
The education system concludes today (Friday) a week for the return of first- and fourth-grade students to school after a long closure, and it seems that the Ministry of Education and Health is already looking forward - to the return of additional grades, 5th-6th, 11th-12th grade. .
But the next step will not include the return of middle and tenth grade students.
PM Olmert Visits Tali Beit Vagan School in Jerusalem // Photo: GPO
At the next stage and surprisingly, first- and second-grade students will return to studies without capsules - that is, learning in large organic classes of dozens of students as was the case on September 1st.
This is in stark contrast to the Ministry of Health's recent insistence on returning these strata to studies exclusively by division into small groups.
The change is also expected to be in daycare centers: if until now it was possible to mix three organic classrooms into one daycare center with 28 students, now each daycare group will consist exclusively of the children in the class even if it is a small number of children.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Finance and the local government agreed on budgeting and recruiting about 6,000 counselors for the benefit.
Returning to the learning of first- and second-graders in the classrooms will also allow the fifth- and sixth-graders to be returned to school in part (and in the middle grades) when the estimated date is November 15.
Students in these strata are expected to return to study just as in the September 1 format, meaning a minimum of two days of learning from home and the rest of the days distance learning.
This is of course as long as there is no extreme increase in morbidity data.
It should be noted that many authorities were able at the beginning of the year to bring these students to four school days a week as well, but this time the limitations are more challenging, among other things because each teacher (e.g. those teaching math or English) can only switch between three groups of students.
Another line is for high school students, 11th and 12th graders who are approaching matriculation this year.
These students are also expected to return to school for at least two days in order to be ready for matriculation.
Learning will be under strict guidance and in small groups.
Recall, against the background of the closure and the continuation of distance learning, the Ministry of Education decided to postpone the date of the winter matriculation for a month and the exams will be spread over three months.
In addition, it was decided to extend the exam dates of the winter time so that there will also be dates for students who fell ill in Corona or were in isolation.
Summer time will also be postponed.
As mentioned, the students who are most affected are middle school and tenth graders who according to the program are not yet returning to schools in any way, not even for a minimum of two days of study.
These students are harmed not only pedagogically and academically but socially.
Even the outline that allows schools to conduct educational activities in the open has not yet been approved.
This is because the head of the Knesset's Education Committee, Ram Shefa (Blue and White), demands that meetings be held in larger groups and not a maximum of nine students, as was initially approved.
Gamzo: "It is very difficult to continue with the relief" // Photo: GPO
Another issue that still remains unresolved and may be addressed next week is the obligation to wear masks in grades 1-2 as well.
Students, parents and teachers report that in practice this is impossible and the mask makes learning difficult.
This week, the Ministries of Health and Education announced the establishment of a special joint team that will re-examine the requirement of professionals in the Ministry of Health for the obligation to wear masks in first and second grades.
Ultimately, this is a health decision that the Ministry of Education will have a hard time arguing with, so the chances that health officials will allow students to remove the mask that was found to be effective are not high.
