Upper grades students may gradually return to school from January 18 if coronavirus situation permits

"In the coming weeks, the situation with the coronavirus in the country may get better or may get worse. We hope to maintain the downward trend in the number of cases and the number of hospitalized. If the situation improves, we will proceed to a gradual return of the students from 5th to 12th grade to in-person attendance at school - some of the students will study from home and some will return to school,” the Minister of Education Krassimir Valchev said after a meeting with teachers at 143rd school in Sofia on January 4.

"We need to have a full working week in order to have a better idea about the number of cases. The data from the holidays are not completely indicative in terms of the reported cases. We will probably discuss next week. If there is an improvement in the situation, the partial return will be from January 18, not from 11th,” the Minister specified.

The vast majority of parents are in favour of returning to in-person attendance classes, Valchev said. According to him, distance learning is a temporary compensatory alternative, it cannot completely replace learning in a real classroom, but it is necessary when there is no other way out. In this case, we decided that the return of children from 1st to 4th grade is reasonable, there is an improvement in the epidemic situation, but it is not enough for the return of all students. Young children are less likely to be carriers of the virus and it is not fair to blame them," Valchev said.

According to him, if the situation allows, from January 18 some additional activities can be allowed, such as the state exams, the olympiads, which are related to applying for 5th grade.

"Unfortunately, there is a risk that the situation could worsen because of the recent holidays and because of the new strain of the coronavirus," Valchev said.

Today, the students from 1st to 4th grade returned to in-person attendance classes. Nurseries and kindergartens also re-opened.

About 60% of the children have returned to kindergartens today, the Minister said.

He added that by the end of the week the lists for teachers, principals, pedagogical advisers, psychologists, etc. who want to be vaccinated will be ready. The minister expects 35,000 people to be vaccinated.