Pupils in grades 5 to 8 of primary schools and all students of post-primary schools will be home-learning from Thursday. Przemysław Czarnek, the minister of education and science, signed an ordinance introducing distance learning until the end of the winter holidays, that is, until February 27. Children from grades 1 to 4 in primary schools will continue to attend school. The decision on the mode of operation of special schools will be made by their principals together with the parents of the students.

Anna Ostrowska, Ministry of Education and Science explains that the introduction of restrictions on the functioning of schools and institutions was necessary due to the growing number of cases in recent days. However, the starting and ending dates of the winter holidays remain unchanged.

She added that despite remote learning, secondary school graduates and eighth-graders will be able to come to school for consultations before exams. The school principals may provide individual or group consultations at school with the teacher conducting the given educational classes in the subject in which the students take the eighth-grade exam or the final examinations. The organization of these consultations depends on the needs of students and the working conditions of the school. The students’ department in consultations is voluntary.

Kindergartens will work unchanged. The dormitories and boarding houses will continue operating and it will also be possible to continue with practical vocational training. Nothing will change in the functioning of youth educational centers, youth sociotherapy centers, rehabilitation and educational centers, special education centers and psychological and pedagogical counselling centers.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński