Piazolo rules out school closings for Bavaria: "would be counterproductive"

The corona infection numbers are skyrocketing, the calls for schools to be closed are increasing.

Minister of Education Michael Piazolo (FW) continues to rule this out.

Munich / Berlin - "Coronavirus pandemic: Clear and consistent measures - immediately!", Under this heading the National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) published drastic recommendations on Saturday to increase vaccinations and reduce contact. In addition to strict 2G regulation in all publicly accessible indoor spaces (with the exception of supermarkets, medical practices), the measures at schools are also to be tightened. For example, the scientists propose a complete mask requirement in the school building, a test at least three times a week and an early Christmas break.

You hear the latter point more often now.

Two federal states have already decided on early Christmas holidays.

The GEW no longer ruled this out either.

"If the infection situation requires it, it may be necessary to bring the Christmas holidays forward," said GEW chairman Maike Finnern.

The CSU regional group chairman in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, and CDU parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus also pleaded for earlier Christmas holidays.

Piazolo: Schools are helping to contain the pandemic

In Bavaria, Minister of Culture Michael Piazolo (FW) continues to reject this. "School closings would be counterproductive," he emphasized to the "Münchner Merkur" (Tuesday). "The schools in particular are helping to contain the pandemic with their regular tests." The rapid tests at the schools also contributed to the fact that the third wave could be broken. He is referring to a study by the Research Institute for the Future of Work (IZA). Face-to-face teaching gives "support and structure". Piazolo continues: "We are doing everything to keep the schools open."

In Munich, the chairman of the MLLV teachers' district association, Martin Schmid, viewed the discussion with concern.

The reason: Instead of the video conference system MS Teams, the Ministry of Culture now favors the new Visavid system developed in Bavaria.

That could be difficult if the schools do close and are obliged to teach at a distance.

"MS Teams is the much better system," says Schmid.