Children should be able to learn - but safely

In a letter to the Thuringian Minister for Education, Youth and Sport, Helmut Holter, Jena's Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche calls for clear regulations on hygiene measures in face-to-face teaching on behalf of the crisis team. The state government's request to open schools is expressly welcomed. This is in the interests of the development of all pupils.

However, hygiene standards must be set as a prerequisite. Specifically, the obligation to wear a face mask at school, even below the 7th grade level, as well as the obligation for teaching staff to be tested regularly, ideally twice a week, must be ensured in a new regulation. In view of the amendment to the Thuringian Special Containment Measures Ordinance published yesterday, the abolition of the regulation on wearing a face mask, at least for staff and pupils from Year 7 onwards, is therefore viewed as extremely critical. The decision on this now lies solely with the Thuringian Ministry of Education, which has not yet commented on this. It is also to be criticized that the mandatory testing regulated in the new ordinance only applies to staff in daycare centers and child daycare, while the school sector remains open.

However, these are just two key points that the crisis team considers absolutely essential to ensure that the start of daycare and school operations can take place with sufficient support from the perspective of infection protection. Furthermore, the following measures are considered essential for containing the coronavirus pandemic:

• Reduction of class sizes, alternation of face-to-face and distance learning (division of classes in such a way that pupils who spend their free time together are in the same group - "social bubble")
• Rapid testing of children, even if symptoms of a cold occur, re-admission if test negative
• staggered start of lessons (also to reduce contact outside of lessons, especially when using public transport)

Some of these measures have already been incorporated into the current regulation (ThürSARS-CoV-2-KiJuSSpVO). However, they are often left to the discretion of the respective school authorities, in particular the obligation to use a face mask, or are set at a much too late stage (level "red"). The same applies to the staggered start of lessons. Others are only mentioned as one of various optional measures, such as alternating lessons.

Currently, incidence figures are rising again. Across Germany, the detection of highly contagious corona mutations is at 22 percent. There is a risk of the virus spreading further. Against this background in particular, increased protective measures are required.

The opening of schools and daycare centers must not become an accelerator of this development. Parents, pupils and educational staff have a right to a safe environment,

said Nitzsche and called on the Thuringian state government to set the legal framework for this. The Jena crisis team hopes that these demands will be reflected in the upcoming ordinance.