AMMAN — After a
year and a half, due to the coronavirus pandemic, students returned on
September 1 to in-person education. However, in order for students and teachers
to safely return to face-to-face teaching, the Ministry of Health has issued a
number of procedures that must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
اضافة اعلان
The following
are instructions the ministry has issued:
- Wear the mask correctly, covering the nose and mouth.
- Wash hands with soap and water regularly for 20 seconds.
- Avoid shaking hands and kissing in meetings.
- Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
- Dispose of used tissues safely.
- Avoid direct contact with any suspected or confirmed case.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with hands after touching
surfaces.
- Eat healthy foods rich in vitamin C to strengthen the immune system.
- Avoid using the same cup, mug, or bowl for more than one person.
During a tour of
a number of schools
Jordan News had the opportunity to visit in the first few
days since their
reopening, administrators were keen to stress that all the
necessary measures were being implemented.
The specific
procedures for implementing the ministry’s measures varied from school to
school. In some cases, schools no longer allow students to gather in the
schoolyard before the beginning of the day and canceling certain sports events
that result in students congregating. In other cases, classrooms have been
rearranged and desks moved to ensure a distance of one meter between students.
School
administrators stressed the importance of maintaining open lines of
communication, encouraging students and parents to inform the school of any
contact with suspected infections.
Furthermore,
students are encouraged to ask any questions or raise any concerns they have
relating to possible symptoms they themselves may have, and in the event they
present symptoms of COVID-19, that it is important that they quarantine.
Preventative
measures and coronavirus awareness are being incorporated into the everyday lessons
and activities of the school, administrators underlined, explaining to
Jordan News that the content and
activities were tailored to every age group, to ensure they are effective and
appropriate.
In the event of
an outbreak
One of the most
important points school officials highlighted was their institutions’
preparations to continue students’ education in the event of an outbreak of
COVID-19 at the school. The processes in place include e-learning strategies;
the selection of reading materials and exercises that can be done at home;
broadcasts via radio, television, or podcast of educational content; assigning
teachers to conduct daily or weekly follow ups with students; and reviewing or
developing strategies for addressing distance education.
A number of
students interviewed by
Jordan News were quick to point out the importance of wearing masks, with one student
saying that they are “to protect ourselves and the people around us.”
Mask mandates
For masks to be
as effective as possible, students, teachers, and staff must wear a
well-fitting mask consistently and correctly, school officials said. Everyone
over the age of two must wear their masks indoors at all times if they have not
been fully vaccinated.
Masks must be
worn inside the school environment, including in classrooms, buses, and
bathrooms. In the cafeteria, where it is necessary for students to remove their
masks to eat and drink, distance has to be maintained between them.
In the event a
student has exceptional circumstances that mean they are unable to wear masks,
schools isolate these children from their peers and handled on a case-by-case
basis to ensure a safe academic environment for everyone involved.
Administrators
told
Jordan News that all their
teachers were fully vaccinated in anticipation of the approaching school year,
and many of the schools offer free, regular tests for both students and staff. They
added that all
COVID-related plans will be shared with parents.
They concluded by stressing that schools
are doing their best to ensure the continuation of face-to-face education, and
that maintaining preventative measures is the most effective way to do so and
avoid a return to distance learning.
Read more National news
.jpg)
.jpg)
