Germany: concerns rising for needed measures against COVID-19 for the upcoming school year this autumn. With no vaccine for children under age 12, multiple initiatives launched to further protect children.
Context:
- Straightforward decision announced by state education ministers: “full face-to-face instruction” for the upcoming school year
- Caution prevails: face masks and small class sizes will be a possibility, as well as protective measures until spring 2022
- New coronavirus variants steadily becoming more dominant in Germany, even with successful vaccination program and declining numbers
No vaccine for children:
- Schools are environments with unvaccinated people, and thus state a higher risk
- Currently no approved vaccines for children under 12
- Children between 12 and 18 can be vaccinated, yet this is not recommended
Protective measures in place:
- Protectionary measures underway, particularly during the summer vacation
- Regular ventilation of school facilities, yet in winter this proves difficult as children sit in class wearing gloves and hats
- Option for winter months: recommendation for mobile and built-in air cleaners, including pilot projects launched with mobile air purifiers
Concerns:
- The Kinderschutzbund, the largest advocacy organization for children and young people is still concerned about the dangers of face-to-face schooling
- Promised financial support for air purification by government may be too late to be effective
- Not all schools with manage to prepare adequately
- Families struggling financially cannot provide children with necessary technological equipment
Positive developments:
- “Digital Pact”: launched before the pandemic, budget was now increased to €5 billion in order to support schools in developing their digital education
- Although a mixed picture, there are many schools that have come through the pandemic well and are preparing for the future
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