Coronavirus: Meetings this week to focus on new school year

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said the government’s main aim is to reopen all schools in September to allow students to come back normally and physically attend their classes.

“The education ministry is fully aware that the new school year will once again have to deal with the effects of the pandemic,” he said. “Unfortunately, the virus is not going anywhere but we will do our best not to let it affect the schools’ operations.”

Prodromou added that he already had several meetings with school boards from all over the island, which he called “very productive.”

In addition to that, he also said that around 50,000 single-seat desks conforming to existing health protocols in place have been installed in Cypriot schools.

This week, Prodromou will also meet Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas and the government’s epidemiological team led by Constantinos Tsioutis to determine what will be necessary when schools are set to reopen in September.

“I think everyone agrees that, especially in schools, where many people share spaces together, there needs to be the utmost attention to health protocols,” Prodromou said before adding that the SafePass was the best solution to maintain safety at the moment.

“We are still keeping distance learning as an alternative option, as caution is required after two years of dealing with coronavirus.

Finally, the education minister said this week he will also meet representatives from Cypriot universities in order to find a solution for physical classes to return there.