Monday 21 September 2020

Confusion over rules as 30 pupils at one school test positive for coronavirus

Confusion over rules as 30 pupils at one school test positive for coronavirus

Standing outside Spinoza Lyceum in the south of Amsterdam, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 2019.  Many of the secondary school’s 1,280 pupils congregate en masse for lunch break. Some stand in small groups; others devour sandwiches. But none are social distancing. And that’s because they don’t have to. Yet, according to new figures released on Friday, 30 pupils at the school have tested positive for coronavirus, as have members of staff. But school continues non the less, with... More >

VVD calls for online lesson monitors

VVD calls for online lesson monitors

MPs from the right-wing Liberal party VVD are planning to introduce a motion calling for more supervision of online university and college teaching when MPs debate the impact of coronavirus on higher education, the Volkskrant said at the weekend. Between 70% and 90% of lessons will be online in the coming year, and this means more control is crucial, VVD parliamentarian Dennis Wiersma told the paper.  ‘Quality must be paramount,’ he said. ‘I have heard from students… that they are... More >

No national school lockdown: minister

No national school lockdown: minister

A national lockdown of schools must be prevented at all cost, and local or regional closures are the most likely scenario if coronavirus is makes a comeback, education minister Arie Slob has told the AD in an interview. Schools in all three regions are back from Monday amid ongoing checks of ventilation systems and a range of different safety measures. However suggestions that the government prioritise teachers when testing for coronavirus, which would enable those with symptoms to get back... More >

Face masks at 1 in 5 schools: survey

Face masks at 1 in 5 schools: survey

Around one in five secondary schools are requiring pupils to wear face masks or are advising them to do so, despite the official guidelines saying masks are not necessary, a survey by broadcaster NOS shows. Some 100 schools took part in the survey, which asked how heads are going about containing the spread of infection among pupils and staff, now that classes are resuming. Most schools said they are not requiring pupils to wear face masks but in vocational schools,... More >

Students campaign against high rents

Students clustered together while studying outdoors.

Students campaign against high rents

Student unions LSVb and FNV Young & United have launched a joint campaign against the high cost of student accommodation in five popular university towns and cities. The campaign kicked off on Monday in Wageningen and will move to Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Groningen and Utrecht. The student groups consider €400 a month to be a reasonable rent, but say that in some cities students are being asked to pay upwards of €700. A quarter of students leaving university have a debt... More >

Face masks in schools gain traction

Face masks in schools gain traction

A number of Dutch schools have made face masks compulsory in the absence of a clear guideline from health institute RIVM, the Outbreak Management Team and the cabinet, broadcaster NOS reports. Two schools, one in Assen and another in Hilversum, were the first to announce the measure, followed on Wednesday by schools in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Haarlem and another school in Hilversum. The official Dutch line is that masks offer only limited protection from infection with coronavirus. However, face masks have... More >

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