Anti-epidemic measures will be strengthened in Russian schools from September 1 to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

The head of the Ministry of Education Sergei Kravtsov spoke about this during the traditional All-Russian parent meeting.

“Taking into account the epidemiological situation, appropriate measures will be strengthened, which are recommended by Rospotrebnadzor, the Ministry of Health, in order to ensure the health of students, teachers, teaching staff.

I ask everyone to treat these measures with understanding, ”he said.

At the same time, Kravtsov stressed that the Day of Knowledge in Russia will be held in person in a traditional format.

The minister also recalled that home schooling against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic was a forced measure, which made it possible to preserve the health of children, parents and teachers.

The ministry has no plans to switch to distance learning on a permanent basis. 

“Schools will always work in a traditional format, no one will replace teachers,” said Kravtsov.

At the same time, he recalled that the Russian regions themselves make decisions about the format of training, which may have their own characteristics.

Kravtsov stressed that only compliance with measures to counter the spread of COVID-19 will allow continuing education in schools this year in full-time format.

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The head of the sanitary supervision department of Rospotrebnadzor, Irina Shevkun, in turn, clarified that sanitary rules in educational institutions will be in effect until the end of the upcoming academic year.

“I want to reassure everyone: the new academic year will be held in full-time format.

The sanitary rules that we have developed for the work of educational organizations in the face of the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection will remain in effect this year until the end of the school year, ”she said.

The decision to end the anti-epidemic measures will depend on the situation with the coronavirus, citizens' compliance with safety measures and the pace of vaccination, she said.

The representative of Rospotrebnadzor added that according to the current rules, educational organizations are obliged to carry out a general cleaning before the start of the school year, organize a thermometry procedure at the entrance, and provide an enhanced disinfection regime.

Separate rooms should be assigned to each class, and the September 1 rulers should be carried out with the participation of one class or parallel in the open air with the use of personal protective equipment for parents.

As Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Salagay noted, schoolchildren are at risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19.

He stressed that protecting the health of students is one of the national priorities.

“We must not forget that we continue to be in the period of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, more than 500 thousand minors with COVID-19 are schoolchildren.

They are at particular risk associated with contacts associated with risk factors for the development of severe forms of coronavirus infection, ”he said.

Against this background, it is necessary to ensure a high level of informational and preventive work among students and their parents, Salagay emphasized.

Recall that in a number of regions there are orders of chief sanitary doctors, which oblige employers to organize the vaccination of teachers and other school employees.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education emphasized that this process should be voluntary.

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In early August, the Ministry of Education and Science recommended that Russian educational institutions transfer students who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and have contraindications for vaccination to distance learning, as well as separate exams for vaccinated and unvaccinated students.

At the same time, the Federation Council announced the need for explanatory work, which would encourage young people to be vaccinated before the start of the school year. 

Earlier, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the Moscow authorities are not planning "any such tough restrictions" by September 1.

He recalled that "there are, of course, requirements related to the separation of the streams of children, so that they less overlap with each other, thermometry, control in classrooms, and so on."

Nevertheless, the mayor stressed that "nothing can replace face-to-face communication between students and teachers."

“We will do our best to ensure that this is how the entire school year continues.

Although, of course, we also have technologies for distance learning for children.

And if necessary, we will provide quality education (in a remote format. -

RT

).

But let's hope it won't be needed, ”Sobyanin added.