Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – At the North Rhine-Westphalian schools there is still a recommendation to wear corona protective masks, but not an obligation. “Our concept has proven itself, the schools have started the new school year well,” said School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) on Thursday in Düsseldorf. For this reason, no stricter protective measures would initially be taken.
The new Federal Infection Protection Act allows the federal states to make a mask compulsory from class 5 under certain conditions. However, the situation is currently stable, explained Feller. The number of new corona infections in schools has recently been declining. At the same time, the immunization of students and teachers after vaccinations and infections that have already gone through is now better.
That is why, in addition to the mask recommendation, there are voluntary, event-related tests at home, regular ventilation of the classrooms and course rooms and the possibility of distance teaching if the infection process requires this at individual schools and no substitute classes are possible.
“Our primary goal is and remains to ensure face-to-face teaching and keep the schools open,” affirmed the minister. “The past few years have shown how important this is for learning and, above all, for the psychosocial development of our students.”
In addition, the ministry provided the schools with detailed information on energy supply in the cold season. In principle, a federal government regulation provides for a temporary reduction of the minimum temperature in public buildings by one degree Celsius. However, schools are expressly excluded from this.
