We are vigilant observers of what is happening in universities – said Deputy Minister of Education and Science Włodzimierz Bernacki. As he said, the level of infections at universities is slightly lower than in schools. He pointed out that this may be due to the vaccination of a large proportion of the students.
On Friday, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science was asked on Polish Radio 24 about the epidemiological situation in universities regarding the fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, and whether it is similar to that in schools, as more and more are turning to hybrid or distance education.
“It’s exactly the same, we’re comparing that level of injury, whether it’s elementary school, high school or college. Those stats are comparable, although from what I know in higher education these stats are a little lower. It probably also results from the fact that a large portion of the The students have been vaccinated ”- replied Bernaki.
He pointed out that students of technical, polytechnic, medical or agricultural universities in the last academic year participated in classes in the normal way, because classes in laboratories cannot be conducted remotely.
“These statistics are a little better, but we are still vigilant observers of what is happening in individual universities, but – I want to stress this very strongly – the independence of universities means that the recommendations made by the ministry are just recommendations, while universities are subject to general legal regulations in this regard” – Bernacki said . “We get reports, but we can’t convince these or other universities to act one way or the other,” he added.
He said that “in a large part of universities, lectures where there are a large number of students are conducted in a hybrid way or in the remote mode, if only for the reason that such contact is limited.”
“We are watching the development of events with some concern. We are ready for all scenarios” – emphasized the Deputy Minister of Education and Science. As he said, universities are ready to move toward distance or hybrid teaching. “In some cases the hybrid is already present, in some cases the remote control is already there” – he said. “Does not interfere in the education process to the end” – the assessment of the vice president.
MEiN reported that 12,348 elementary schools were operating on Friday, or 85.8 percent. total and 6287 secondary, or 87.4 percent. 65 primary schools and 60 secondary schools operate remotely. 1,975 elementary schools and 925 high schools operated in a mixed system.
In the event students are infected with the COVID-19 virus, the head of the school may suspend classes for a specified period and switch to teaching using distance education methods and technologies. Class suspension may apply to a group, department, class or educational stage, as well as to the entire school or facility, in terms of all classes or individual. (PAP)
Author: Danuta Starzyńska-Rosiecka
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