The National Administration of Public Education (ANEP) defined that face-to-face classes for all public and private centers of Initial and Primary education are suspended from next Monday, July 3 until Friday the 21st, while today it will define how much of those three weeks will be virtual classes and how much of july vacation in public centers.
The decision was made due to the increased circulation of the respiratory infections in children in the country that has led to a increase in pediatric hospitalizations.
ANEP’s position is that of these three weeks, the first two (Monday 3 to Friday 14) are for virtual education and the last (Monday 17 to Friday 21) vacation, as confirmed to The Observer Juan Gabito Zóboli, counselor of the Central Board of Directors (Codicen).
The final decision will be made this Wednesday at an ANEP meeting at 2:30 p.m.
The Uruguayan Federation of Teachers (FUM) expressed its rejection of this possibility. “Virtuality deepens the educational gap,” they stated, adding that “support must be guaranteed to students who suffer from a lag in their learning.”
In a statement signed by its general secretary Elbia Pereira, the FUM states that “the winter recess originates in Primary School due to issues related to the health of children, so we understand that it must return to the two weeks, and claims that “flexible hours or virtual work must be considered for officials who have children in school.”
In addition, the statement complains that in the meeting informally convened by the Codicen “what was later announced through the media” was not handled, that is, the two weeks of virtual classes.
Why are face-to-face classes suspended?
two days ago the Hospital Pereira Rossell He reported that had 50 hospital beds occupied by children with respiratory diseases. At least two viruses from the influenza family (A ha1n1 and B Victoria) converge, together with the respiratory syncytial virus, and others with less circulation (such as Sars-Cov-2 and Coxsackie). From ASSE they reported that will increase the number of beds to address this situation.
For Secondary there are no changes and the initial date is maintained: between Monday 10 and Friday 23 Julythe same as for UTU.
