With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection, the number of children infected is increasing, and there are concerns about infection at schools after the summer vacation.
At school, we are struggling to balance infection control with children's learning.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has set for the first time the criteria for deciding whether to close a class in case an infected person appears at school.
Experts and countermeasure inspection before the new semester <Ota-ku, Tokyo>
As the infection of the new coronavirus spreads, Ota Ward, Tokyo, where the new semester will start next week, invited experts to check the measures against infectious diseases in elementary schools.
In Ota Ward, the new semester is scheduled to start on the 1st of next month, and we are taking measures against infectious diseases at the school so that children can go to school with peace of mind.
On the 27th, Professor Kazuhiro Tateda of Toho University, who is also a member of the government subcommittee on measures against the new coronavirus, visited an elementary school in the ward and is the school taking measures together with the principal and the staff of the ward's board of education? I checked.
[Classroom] “Check the physical condition of the family”
Of these, in the first grade classroom, Professor Tateda asked the teacher in charge, "I want you to check the information on the physical condition of the family as well as the children themselves. Please instruct me. "
[Music room] "Ventilation Thorough disinfection after class"
Also, in music rooms where you may wear a mask when playing a flute, check the infection prevention panel attached to the desk and whether the windows are open for ventilation, and thoroughly disinfect after class. I was requesting.
In the future, Ota Ward will publish a video of the inspection on the 27th on the ward's homepage so that other schools can use it as a countermeasure.
Professor Tateda said, "I felt that the teacher was having a hard time preparing for the new semester. There is a risk that the infection will spread to and from school and during breaks, so I will tell the children why they should take measures. Education is important. "
Principal Miki Yoshinari of Omori Daisan Elementary School said, "I was relieved that the direction of the measures so far was correct. I would like to devise ways to keep learning."
2nd semester starts with "Hybrid class" <Saitama>
At public elementary and junior high schools in Saitama City, classes for the second semester have begun in a format that allows students to participate online from home if they refrain from attending school.
Saitama City leaves it up to the family to decide whether or not to go to school during the period of the state of emergency for public elementary and junior high schools where classes for the second semester began on the 27th, and if they refrain from going to school, they can also take classes online from home. We are planning to have a "hybrid class" where you can participate in classes at.
Even in the 5th grade class of Motobuto Elementary School in Urawa Ward, the screen was shared so that the blackboard was reflected, and the teacher proceeded with the class while asking the children at home.
Yusuke Namiki, who participated in the class online, said, "It was easy to understand because the teacher brought the terminal closer even when the blackboard on the screen was a little difficult to see."
Musashi Odagiri said, "We devised a way to make students feel that they can teach in one place even if they are far away. The challenge is for us to get used to it."
At this school, 161 students, which is more than 18% of all school children, wanted online lessons, but since it was the 24th of this month that the city policy was communicated to each school, the 27th of the first day, some schools It means that I couldn't do online lessons because I wasn't ready in time.
Judgment criteria for class closure, etc. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the first time
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has set the criteria for judging class closure for the first time.
Regarding class closures and school closures when infections of children and faculty members are confirmed, the Board of Education has been conducting surveys by health centers and identifying close contacts, and has decided on the necessity after obtaining advice. I did.
However, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) decided on specific criteria for the first time in consultation with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, saying that the work of the health center may be strained and the investigation may be delayed in areas where the state of emergency is declared that the infection is spreading rapidly. created.
What is the specific content of the standard?
In this, specific examples are shown when schools etc. create a list of candidates for close contacts and test subjects, and if it is difficult to identify test candidates, even one infected person will be tested for the entire class. It is said that it can be targeted.
On top of that, regarding class closure,
▽ when multiple children or students are found to be infected in the same class,
▽ even one infected person
, multiple
people
complaining of symptoms such as colds, or multiple
close
contacts. such as the
risk of spread of infection in the class is higher
you are to consider the implementation.
The period is shown as a guideline of about 5 to 7 days.
In addition,
▽ grade closure will be implemented when there is a high possibility that the infection has spread in grades, such as closing multiple classes.
▽ Temporary closure of the entire school
will be implemented when
multiple grades are closed. ..
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will notify the Board of Education nationwide on the 27th.
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hagita "I want you to work so as not to stop learning."
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hagiuda said, "In areas subject to the state of emergency, there is a risk that the investigation may be delayed due to the tight work of the health center, and the idea of temporary closure when there is a high possibility that the infection has spread. Please refer to the guidelines and make sure that you do not stop learning for children and students even in an emergency. "
Most of the daycare centers are closed
On the other hand, as of the 26th, there were 179 nursery schools in 14 prefectures where children and staff were infected with the new coronavirus and the park was completely closed, the highest number ever.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's compilation of reports from municipalities nationwide, there are 179 nursery schools and children's institutes in 14 prefectures as of the 26th, which were completely closed due to infection of children and staff in the facility. I'm up there.
This is the highest number ever, surpassing the 168 locations where the first state of emergency was declared last April.
In addition, it has nearly tripled from the 62 locations as of the 29th of last month, a month ago.
Expert "Criteria for closing the park Explain to parents in an easy-to-understand manner"
Aki Fukouin, who is the representative of the "Parents' Association for Thinking about Nursery Schools", which is made up of parents, said, "When the nursery school is completely closed, some parents cannot leave their children and there are no other parents to see. There are some workplaces where you can take time off, but in the case of non-regular employment with a weak position, you may lose your job, such as not being able to renew your contract. "
On top of that, "Since the closure of a nursery school has a great impact, it is necessary to make a flexible judgment to some extent according to the actual conditions of the area, but there are cases where the criteria for the closure of a nursery school are not shown. The current situation is that the standards are difficult to understand and lead to parents' anxiety. It is important to explain to parents in an easy-to-understand manner under what circumstances the nursery school will be closed and the nursery school will be reopened. " Was there.