site.btaStudents in Grades 7th and 12th Most Likely to Resume in-Person Schooling in February

ESD 18:58:01 17-01-2021
PP1855ES.109
109 COVID-19 - SCHOOLS - MEASURES

Students in Grades 7th and 12th Most
Likely to Resume in-Person
Schooling in February


Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said Sunday that if the COVID-19 infection rate continues to fall down, some of the older pupils will be allowed to return to school. Angelov, quoted by the government information service, specified that these will be probably 7th- and 12th-graders.

These classes are key to moving forward to a higher level of education in Bulgaria.

It is possible for fifth- and eighth-graders to resume in-person classes too, said the Minister.

Younger children in Bulgaria, in grades 1 to 4, returned to schools after the Christmas break but the older pupils continued with online schooling.

Angelov said that on Monday he will meet with Education Minister Krassimir Valchev and the teachers' trade union to discuss which classes to return to school and when.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was the first to mention Saturday of the possible resumption of in-person classes for pupils in grades 5 to 12 next month. Borissov was speaking to reporters as he visited Saturday several southern Bulgarian towns accompanied by Education Minister Krassimir Valchev. In the Prime Minister's
words, if the pandemic situation improves, older pupils might be allowed to return to in-person schooling on January 31.

Borissov added that Bulgaria has undertaken more liberal measures against the COVID-19 crisis compared to other countries, and these measures are yielding results. LN/DS,PP