Over a half of pupils from Moldova study with physical presence in schools

Chisinau, 18 March /MOLDPRES/ - More than a half of all pupils from Moldova (178,000 or about 53.4 per cent) presently study with the physical presence, 41 per cent carry out distance learning and 8 per cent study in mixed regime. Education, Culture and Research Minister Lilia Pogolsa made public data to this effect at a news briefing today.   
According to the official, the primary education institutions, gymnasiums and lyceums work according to three scenarios established, according to the Decision No 50 by the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission (CNESP). ‘’Under the scenario No 1, 321 schools (about 27 per cent) work with physical presence of pupils. According to the second scenario, 151 institutions (about 13 per cent) work with the physical presence of pupils from the elementary school and last school forms, the ninth and 12th forms; as for pupils from the other forms, the education process is organized online,’’ Lilia Pogolsa said.      
Under the scenario 3, 765 institutions (about 63 per cent) work with the physical presence of pupils from elementary school, last school forms, as well as a contingent of 50 per cent of all pupils. The minister also said that four schools from Moldova carried out exclusively distance learning, under a decision by territorial public health commissions.      
"The thorough analysis of this data shows that the taking of decisions locally based on the epidemiological situation specific to each settlement, through the efficient cooperation of decision-makers from the education, health sectors and local public administration, allowed access to education to over 53 per cent of the pupils with physical presence. To a great extent, it is about the pupils from the elementary school and the last school forms, for whom the participation in the education process represents an opportunity and is absolutely necessary. All of us understand that the distance learning is particularly difficult for the small children from the elementary school and we also assume responsibility for a generation of graduates, for whom this year is decisive to accede to the next education level or professional development,’’ the education minister said.     
Starting from 16 March, the pupils from Moldova returned to education, after the spring vacation, which has earlier been extended by one week. As of 16 March, CNESP ruled to resume the education process in Moldova. The education is organized based on three scenarios, depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation from each settlement. More exactly, the territorial extraordinary public health commissions instruct the organization of the education process depending on the degree of alert given to the settlement, based on the indicator of the incidence per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days.