The Swedish Public Health Agency removed its recommendations on distance education in upper secondary schools as early as 1 April, but the then pandemic situation in Västerbotten meant that some schools in the county chose to continue with distance education until the end of school.
When the autumn term starts week 32, however, the plan is for all the county's upper secondary schools to have regular local education.
- We look forward to meeting the students.
I usually say that nothing is as dead and sad as a school without students, says Erik Burstrand, high school principal in Skellefteå municipality.
Weekly meetings with infection control
However, it will not be exactly as usual.
None of the upper secondary schools in Umeå, Skellefteå and Lycksele will have large collections.
For example, appeals will be made class by classroom.
Staff at Skellefteå's upper secondary schools must work from home when they are not teaching and Tannbergsskolan in Lycksele has staff in, among other things, the canteen who ensure that the students keep their distance.
All upper secondary schools will also continue to have weekly meetings with the region's infection control physicians to update themselves on the infection situation and whether there are any measures that need to be taken.
- We have learned a lot during the spring.
Hopefully we can do sampling early if there are cases and perhaps avoid distance learning during the autumn, says Therese Thunberg, assistant infection control doctor in the Västerbotten Region.
"Hope everyone books vaccination time"
Pontus Clarin, head of upper secondary school in Umeå municipality, is happy that upper secondary schools can now conduct local education again, but sees it as a challenge to reduce the risk of infection spreading in schools.
- Our hope is that our students listen to all recommendations to be able to have a school start as planned.
Then we also hope that everyone books their vaccination times, says Pontus Clarin.