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What tests must be done, and when will the whole class go into isolation?
What you need to know about the outline of education
The congestion at the test stations and the changes decided upon by the Ministries of Education regarding the manner in which the return to school plan will be launched have caused great confusion among the public.
Under what conditions will the studies take place from home, what is the difference between the first outline and the one approved, and is there an obligation to arrive at school with the test results?
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Corona virus
Sonia Gorodisky
Thursday, 26 August 2021, 15:02 Updated: 15:22
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Despite the stabilization in the morbidity data published today (Thursday), the Ministry of Education presents the return to school on September 1 as a fait accompli.
This was preceded by the decision of the Corona Cabinet to open the studies on time, unless there is a significant change in the data.
But despite the approval of the return outline - much confusion remains around the issue of preliminary tests and serological tests, due to a change in their format.
The latest outline approved is stricter than the one presented to the prime minister more than two weeks ago, and includes several more "layers of protection."
And yet, it is still unclear whether this protection will stand the test of reality and succeed in preventing contagion in schools.
What extras are these?
And what has changed since the original outline?
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The Ministry of Education presents the return to school on September 1 as a fait accompli.
Back to school in April (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Studies will open at 1.9 in all age groups
What is the exception?
The most striking difference between the initial outline and the one approved is the restriction in these cities that if less than 70% of the students in the class are vaccinated - then the studies will take place from home, online. More than 70%? Learning will take place in classrooms.
This exception can be problematic for students currently living in the red localities. If in high schools the rate of vaccinated is currently about 80%, in middle schools the rate of vaccinated is significantly lower - according to data from the Ministry of Education, only 50% of students aged 15-12 are vaccinated. This means that in the red localities, the studies will take place in most high schools, compared to the middle schools that will have to study remotely. Recall that also the previous school year the students of the divisions studied mainly in zoom.
Kindergartens, grades 1-4 and
afternoons will continue to study as usual in the frameworks. If a verified patient is found - the class moves on to distance learning until the end of isolation.
In grades 5-7
Principals of educational institutions will move to a learning program while "reducing contact" (learning in open space learning spaces, distance learning integrated, learning in small groups).
If a verified patient is found - the class moves on to distance learning until the end of isolation.
Classes will open on September 1 in all age groups (Photo: Reuven Castro)
2. Serological tests?
Only in defined localities
What is the difference?
It was decided to reduce the scope and they will be mandatory only in defined localities.
The serological testing operation that began this week has already been reduced to a number of localities where the morbidity exceeds 12% of the population.
This is due to the lower than expected numbers of positive results in these tests.
Out of about 320,000 students from all over the country, they underwent serological tests, only about 30,000 received a positive result, so they are entitled to a green mark - about 9% of the subjects.
This is while the Ministry of Education expected at least twice as much data.
In the first days of the serological operation, heavy loads and many computer failures were recorded.
Parents with their children waited a long time sometimes outside and in crowded places.
Although the operation was stopped in most parts of the country, those who managed to get the long-awaited green label were exempted from isolation.
However, it is not clear what the benefit of the exemption will be as there are a low number of children with a green mark in the classrooms.
Opening of the school year in Beit Shemesh, this month (Photo: Official website, Beit Shemesh Municipality spokeswoman)
3. Vaccines will be given in educational institutions
What has changed?
The section that provoked political battles between the Ministry of Health and Education Minister Yifat Shasha Bitton was approved only recently in the Cabinet, after the latter demanded that the issue be approved in the Cabinet.
Finally, it was determined that students would be vaccinated on school grounds, during school hours.
This, of course, is subject to parental approval
4. Antigen rapid tests before the start of studies
Parents are asked to provide a statement that their child has been tested and found negative for Corona. These are self-tests that will be performed on the opening day of the school year, students up to the age of 12 will be required to present parental approval to perform an antigen test that has a negative result. However, under the Compulsory Education Act, students will not be prevented from entering schools and kindergartens who will not undergo the corona test.
About 40% of all verified children are children, and according to the current morbidity data, next Wednesday, thousands of infected children may reach schools and kindergartens, thus putting tens of thousands of students and teaching staff into isolation on the first day. The Ministry of Education is building on the cooperation of the parents regarding the antigen tests and believes that through them it will be possible to reduce the number of patients who will come to school on September 1 by about 70%. This is a relatively optimistic assessment, because it is not a mandatory test.
About 2 million antigen kits have already arrived in the country and are on their way to the authorities.
According to the Ministry of Education, the distribution of assessments in some schools has already begun this morning, and will continue next week.
(Photo: Reuven Castro)
5. Outline of the "green character" on the teaching staff
The character will apply to staff in kindergartens and schools, as well as to staff caring for the education system.
This is a problematic section, although it seems that in the meantime it is receiving the support of the bodies that represent the teachers - the teachers 'organization and the teachers' union.
Its problematicism stems from a relatively high number of teachers who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the corona virus, about 37,000.
Some will agree to take a test twice a week to continue teaching, but some will not.
The issue of salary denial for refusing teachers who are not willing to take tests is now on the desk of Deputy Attorney General Raz Nizri and he will decide on the issue. One way or another, the Ministry of Education will have to find solutions in the form of substitute teachers if necessary.
6. Green Class Pilot
The Ministry of Education has initiated a pilot according to which a student who is found to be positive for the virus will enter the classrooms, while the other students who came in contact with him will return to the school bench to perform tests daily and for a week.
The result is negative?
Students will continue to attend school and will not be required to be isolated.
The Ministry of Education says that "the pilot takes place according to the plan and according to the plan."
This is a pilot that began in the ultra-Orthodox sector in early August and is expected to expand to the Arab sector in September.
However, it currently exists in only two educational institutions and the question is whether its scope will be sufficient to draw conclusions for the general population.
From 15.10-29.9 the pilot is expected to move to Clal for the general sector.
7. The study routine in the shadow of Corona
What has changed: Clear definitions of how studies will be conducted in educational institutions
The outline includes wearing a mask indoors (starting from first grades), keeping distance, ventilating classrooms, ensuring cleanliness of learning spaces, maintaining personal hygiene, presenting a green mark at the entrance to the educational institution by parents , Teachers and everyone on the school and kindergarten island, except for students.
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