School Year Starting on Sept. 1 With Pupils in Attendance

School(BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/DS)

The Team for Schools concluded at its Aug. 18 meeting that there were no obstacles for the school year in Serbia to start on Sept. 1 and for pupils to physically attend classes, without limitations on their number in a class, Education Minister Branko Ruzic has announced.

"Considering the present epidemiological situation and the fact that, with the proper measures in place, schools were already not the primary place of transmission of the (corona)virus, it has been concluded that the pupils' return to school would not effect an increase in the number of infections," Ruzic declared in a written statement. He said that field days, excursions and other journeys would also be allowed for pupils and children in schools and pre-school institutions.

He pointed out that vulnerable people had been recommended to wear protective masks in closed spaces, and that the plan envisaged that, if a pupil develops symptoms that might indicate COVID-19 while at school, the parents would be notified and the pupil placed in a separate room until their arrival, under the supervision of a school employee.