Temporary closure of schools and childcare centres in strategy to fight coronavirus
The government has decided to close all schools and childcare centres from Monday 16 March to Monday 6 April. This means that there will be no lessons at school for the majority of primary and secondary school pupils and students at schools for secondary vocational education. Schools and childcare centres will remain open for the children of parents working in crucial sectors, like healthcare, education, the police, public transport and the fire service. There will be no extra charge.
In the past few days it has become clear that schools in particular are having increasing difficulty keeping their doors open. This is because a growing number of staff and children are sick or in self-isolation, while both teachers and parents are increasingly expressing their concerns. According to education ministers Ingrid van Engelshoven and Arie Slob, this calls for clear choices.
The ministers have reached agreement with the education and childcare organisations concerned. Teachers and childcare workers who are not sick will go to work as usual at their school or childcare centre. They will be responsible for the care of children whose parents work in crucial sectors. They will also organise distance learning for pupils at home. Schools will give priority to lessons for pupils preparing for their leaving examinations.
‘We realise that we are making considerable demands of teachers, heads of school and childcare workers,’ said Arie Slob. ‘I want to take this opportunity to compliment everyone for their hard work. We can imagine that you still have many questions. We hope that we will soon be able to give parents, pupils and people working in schools and childcare centres some clear answers. We are now talking to representatives from the education and childcare sectors.’
The government has called on the municipal authorities to work with schools and childcare centres to provide appropriate care for the children of parents working in crucial sectors.