Friday, April 02, 2021
What next in schools?
Laschet calls for a nationwide solution
There are still Easter holidays in almost all federal states. But at the latest when they are over, the question arises again of how things should go with the schools. CDU boss Armin Laschet is now appealing to the state ministers of education to put an end to the inconsistent patchwork quilt in Germany.
The CDU chairman Armin Laschet wants to achieve a nationwide uniform regulation on how the schools in the corona pandemic will continue after the Easter holidays. These should be made by the federal states themselves and not by the federal government. “I would like everything we do in the coming weeks to be carried out as uniformly as possible across the country. That is also possible in school matters,” said the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister. “There can be a consensus of the Standing Conference, which we all implement in a binding manner.”
According to Laschet, it has not yet been decided whether the schools will reopen after the Easter break. A nationwide answer must be found before school starts. “Schools need these signals after Easter because they have to prepare for every situation.” He is assuming that the ministers of education will coordinate and “we will have clarity by the end of next week about the start of school and the safe conditions”.
In any case, a comprehensive test strategy is necessary. “Whatever time the schools open – it must be ensured that tests can be carried out twice a week in every school of any type.”
Requirement for compulsory testing
From Laschet’s point of view, it is not acceptable for students to refuse tests. “There are reports from the schools that such cases have occurred more frequently. In my opinion, we need compulsory tests. Every child who goes to school must be tested. That is the prerequisite for giving safe lessons.”
An expert opinion by the Scientific Service of the Bundestag has just found that the federal government can impose far-reaching regulations on the federal states to combat the corona pandemic through infection protection law, which they would have to implement precisely. This also applies to school closings.
“Not a good year”
Laschet said that the federal government itself said at the past Prime Minister’s conferences that the federal states were closer to schools. It is wiser to decide these questions in the countries. “You can only make decisions for schools locally with those involved, with the parents, with the student representatives, with the teachers’ unions, with the associations. The federal government has no contact persons at all,” he said.
The CDU chief admitted that it would be harmful for the children if the schools were to remain closed. However, there are indications from Great Britain and Germany that children are more affected by the British virus variant than by the first virus. “This leads to a new weighing which is taking place with great seriousness in all countries.” Laschet went on to say: “It is already clear that this school year, like the last one, was not a good year for many children.”
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