At a glance: What will school reopening in the Czech Republic look like?

Some school grades will return on April 12, but with antigen testing and rotation between in-class and remote learning

Raymond Johnston

Written by Raymond Johnston Published on 10.04.2021 11:15:00 (updated on 10.04.2021) Reading time: 2 minutes

Elementary school students and preschoolers in kindergartens will return to the classroom on April 12. The return will be accompanied by strict epidemiological rules. How long schools will remain open, and when further grades can return will depend on the development of the epidemiological situation.

In Prague, the lines of buses that primarily serve schools, lines 251–275, will go back into service. Suburban and regional buses serving some schools will also go back into service.

Details of how schools will reopen:

  • Students in the first through fifth grades of primary schools will return with classes taught in rotation, alternating weekly between in-class and remote instruction. However, this will not apply to small classes and schools with up to 75 children. These will be able to take place in person without changing classes. The sixth through ninth graded will continue with distance learning alone.
  • Kindergarteners (předškoláci) will return in groups up to 15, and will also rotate between in-class and distance learning.
  • During the first phase of the school reopening, secondary school and university students will still follow distance instruction only, along with the sixth to ninth grades of primary school.
  • Children of healthcare workers, firefighters, police members, teachers, and other selected occupations in crucial professions will not have to go home on weeks of remote learning. Since March 1, schools have been open only to children of healthcare and other critical workers.
  • Face masks will be required for primary school students.
  • Face masks will not be required for preschoolers.
  • Students will be take non-invasive antigen tests on Mondays and Thursdays. If the antigen test is positive, the student will take a confirmation PCR test. If the infection is confirmed, hygiene authorities will handle the case. Suspected infected people will be isolated so the spread of the virus can be limited and people won’t need to be quarantined unnecessarily.
  • Children attending the after school groups will have to undergo self tests for Covid twice a week.
  • Participants in the entrance exams must provide a negative antigen or PCR test.
  • Individual consultations are possible between one student and one teacher or group consultations for up to six students in certain circumstances.
  • University students from last years will be able to attend practical courses and laboratory exercises as of April 19.
  • Libraries can reopen April 12, under strict hygiene conditions, with one reader per 15 square meters. Staff should enforce a two-meter space between people not from the same household.
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