The coronavirus pandemic has brought conditions of emergency and no one knows what will happen by the end of the school year, Minister of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth Prodromos Prodromou has said, adding that by November 10, a total of 223 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in 31 schools in Limassol alone and more than 2,000 pupils where quarantined.

Asked by CNA whether schools in Limassol and Pafos, where a lock down has been imposed due to high Covid-19 cases, are ready to implement online education, Prodromou said distant learning has been already applied because thousands of pupils did not go to schools as they came in contact with confirmed cases.

Replying to a question he said he understands anger and frustration over the closing of schools in Limassol and Pafos but added that there is no other option.

“By November 10 we had 223 covid-19 cases among teachers and pupils in 31 from a total of 36 schools in secondary education in Limassol,” Prodromou said, adding a total of 2,739 pupils were deemed as contacts of confirmed cases and were absent from their schools.

“More than 2,000 pupils went into quarantine,” he said.

Asked whether the Ministry is ready in case online education will be necessary in schools throughout Cyprus, Prodromou said “we would be obliged to respond,” recalling that internet connections are being upgraded in all schools while the planning for upgrade in computers is continuing.

“I hope this would not be necessary but we are preparing so that (online education) could operate,” he said, adding “we will be ready if this is necessary.”

Howevere he said that equipment is only one dimension, noting that we should provide more care and attention to pedagogical dimension.

“New pedagogical approaches should be developed that would utilise digital technology”, he said adding that programmes and procedures should be adjusted.

Noting that this would require training, Prodromou added “this is what occupies us particularly.”