From today, February 15, the educational process in 369 public and private schools in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi continued in classrooms, where a safe educational environment is provided for students. The general education institutions are equipped with the necessary resources and inventory for the prevention of the virus, the bathrooms in the schools are organized and maintained, the sanitary-hygienic norms and the recommendations of the Ministry are strictly observed. In this regard, educational resource centers carry out systematic monitoring of schools and are informed about the situation in general education institutions on the spot.
Updated recommendations by the Ministry, which include information on the organization of the educational process and the sanitary-hygienic norms in the school, are provided to all schools, which, in turn, provide information to the parents of students.
According to the decision of the Coordinating Council, it is necessary for students of V-XII grades to wear facemasks on the school premises. There is a different recommendation for the use of masks for students with special educational needs. In particular, a SEN student who is unable to wear a mask due to his / her health condition is given the opportunity to move around the school premises without it.
As for the mandatory systematic testing of schoolteachers and administrative staff, a full-scale testing was carried out for 46,300 teachers and administration personnel across the country. Nationwide, Covid-19 was confirmed in 0.5% of teachers and school staff over a 2-week period.
Additional opportunities are also offered for parents and teachers. In particular, parents of students from Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Zugdidi, Telavi, Zestaponi, Gardabani, Poti, Marneuli, Batumi, Kobuleti and Gori public schools have the opportunity to choose between distance learning and the traditional format of learning. Online application can be filled out / canceled every Wednesday. According to the latest data, 12% of students across Georgia have expressed a desire for distance learning. It is important that students with special educational needs throughout the country enjoy the same opportunity.
At the same time, throughout the territory of Georgia, the Ministry gives an opportunity to teachers at risk, based on the relevant medical report, to apply to the school administration to continue working in a remote format.
In case of coronavirus cases confirmed in schools, the approach to point restrictions will continue. At such times the school appeals to the local health center, which decides whether to move a particular class remotely or otherwise.