Campeche, Mexico — On Monday, more than 5,900 students returned to face-to-face classes around the state of Campeche. The return to classes is part of a pilot program that included 137 public and private schools.
The schools were reopened to 5,972 students under the measures established by the health and educational authorities in the state. The return occurs after 474 days of suspension of face-to-face classes and the closure of all schools in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is the first state with a green epidemiological light in which school children will return in a phased and voluntary way to classrooms. However, in this first phase, only 137 multi-grade schools are included of the 86,677 schools under the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).
According to the State Secretary of Education, the schools opened are located in nine communities of less than a thousand residents whose staff have been completely vaccinated. Part of the pilot program will see students rotate with some attending classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and other going on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
There has also been mention of the possibility of students returning to face-to-face classes in Mexico City. However mayor Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that the possible return of August classes is up to the Ministry of Public Education and must include the vaccination of all teachers.
“In various media it is highlighted that I mentioned that the return to school would be in August. I clarify the following because I consider this issue very important. The return to classes is determined by @SEP_mx and we will be in full coordination,” she posted on social media.
“For the return to face-to-face classes, 15 days must pass after the educational staff is vaccinated. So far we have been informed by @SSalud_mx that the city begins the vaccination of these personnel for all levels until the week of May 19,” she added.
