On Monday, the gates of primary and secondary schools reopened after two months and the school year 2022/2023 begins. The school year is starting without any major epidemiological measures. The Education Ministry expects a total of around 880,500 children and pupils to start school. Of these, 60,280 kids will be sitting on school desks for the very first time and around 174,500 children will go to kindergartens. 63,500 are expected to take part in compulsory pre-primary education, around 475,000 pupils will return to primary schools. Some 204,000 pupils will attend secondary schools on a full-time basis, of which around 6,100 will be in special secondary schools. The number of freshmen in secondary schools is expected to be 50,500, according to preliminary information from the Ministry of Education. 1 900 children will go to special kindergartens and 25 050 pupils to special primary schools.
In the new school year, schools will operate as they did before the pandemic. Pupils will sit at their desks without the need to wear masks, and isolation will be for positive persons only. In the event of a bad pandemic situation, the school principal will have the option of closing the classroom for five days or declaring a flu holiday. The option of excusing a student for five days will also continue. Schools will also be relieved of having to fill out a covid form.
The morning filter will remain compulsory for nursery schools only, primary and secondary schools will not be required to have a filter. School nature trips, ski trips, trips and excursions and health courses also remain permitted. After starting school and after a break in attendance of more than five school days (e.g. after a pupil's illness), the parent must submit a declaration of non-attendance. There will no longer be compulsory testing in schools.
Source: TASR
