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First day in schools: Barely one third of the gaps filled – Ministry of Education unable to meet needs

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First day in schools: Barely one third of the gaps filled - Ministry of Education unable to meet needs

* file photo

The first day was difficult, today, in the Primary and Secondary Schools, with the return of students, teachers and support staff. The biggest problem is the lack of replacements, while in many cases, as politis.com.cy is informed, teachers had to enter the classrooms, in charge of other tasks.

In statements to politis.com.cy, the president of POED, Myria Vassiliou , described today “but in general and the rest of the week, very difficult” and focused, especially on the lack of replacements. “As of Friday, the data on the needs of replacements have been posted on the website of the Ministry of Education, but there has been no corresponding response,” he noted, adding that the situation is complicated by the absence of support staff.

“Teachers are on alert, we expect a similar response from the Ministry,” said Ms. Vassiliou. Our goal, he said, is to keep schools open, safe and fully staffed.

The statements of the president of OELMEK, Costa Hadjissavva , are on the same wavelength.

“The Ministry of Education did not fully cover the absences of teachers, as a result of which teachers in charge of other duties entered the classrooms.” In absolute numbers, 7.22% of teachers were absent, according to Mr. Hadjisavvas, while almost 3/3 of the gaps in live material were barely filled.

The return of students and teachers was done with the presentation of a negative rapid test of 48 hours (with the exception of children under six years old), while from today primary school students in private and public schools submit a negative Rapid test twice on week. In secondary education, students must submit a negative 72-hour Rapid test, with the exception of those who have completed their vaccination program (two doses) or hold a 180-day sickness certificate.

Nearly 2,000 students and more than 100 teachers were absent in Paphos

From the first day of the return to the Gymnasiums and Lyceums of the province of Paphos, a total of 700 students and 50 teachers were absent. As the First Officer of Secondary Education of Paphos, George Koutsidis, stated in KYPE, today there were losses of 50-60 students and 4-7 teachers per secondary school in the province, which are either cases or contacts. It is reminded that over the weekend, as the Mayor of the city, Faidonas Faidonos, informed in a post on MKD, a crowd was observed in the centers for rapid test. According to Mr. Koutsidis, this will not be repeated since from now on there will be inspections in schools, twice a week.

At the same time, as the First Officer of Primary Education of Paphos, Dimitris Mikellidis, stated to KYPE, 20% of the students and 12.5% of the teachers did not attend the Primary Schools of Paphos on Monday, January 10th. The percentages correspond to 1200 students and 65 teachers. However, as Mr. Mikellidis explained, the percentage of students includes a significant number of children who were not absent, because they are cases or contacts, but due to common childhood diseases.

15% of students in Larnaca did not go to school

A percentage of 15% of all students in the Larnaca District did not go to school, as Petros Chrysostomou, President of the Larnaca School Ephorate, told KYPE. Mr. Chrysostomou noted that the students who stayed at home today attend the lesson through the e-learning system. He added at the same time that from Thursday, January 13, mobile units will visit the schools and will conduct sampling to the school staff as well as the students.

With absences but without particular problems the return to schools in free Famagusta

Many schools in the free province of Famagusta, primary and secondary education, opened with absences, since teachers and professors are either cases or close contacts of confirmed cases, according to what the President of the School Ephorate of Paralimni Solomos Konstantinos told KYPE. Despite the absences, as he noted, there were no particular problems. Mr. Konstantinou also stressed that the School Ephorate of Paralimni is prepared for any eventuality. Asked if there are parents who react to the new measures, Mr. Konstantinou said that the number of students who did not attend schools is small to minimal. He also said that some parents did not give their consent for quick tests to their children from the mobile units that will visit the schools, but all said, without exception, they are obliged to present a negative test to enter the schools. Attendance at kindergartens was at 50%, which was expected, said Mr. Konstantinou, who believes that more children will return to kindergartens within the week.

Source: politis.com.cy

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