When will the schools reopen?

Secondary schools will reopen from 1 March. As things currently stand, everyone will attend school in person at least 1 day a week. Your school will let you know whether you can attend school for one or more days.

In some places, trials had already been carried out to see how schools could safely reopen. Would you like to know more about this? NOS Youth News made this video about it.

What rules do I have to follow when I go to school?

The most important rules are:

  • Wear a face mask when walking through the school. You may remove the face mask when sitting in the classroom.
  • Keep 1.5 metres away from students and teachers.
  • Stay at home if you have symptoms. Have you tested negative for coronavirus? Then you may return to school.
  • If a fellow student or teacher tests positive, anyone who has been within 1.5 metres of that person for more than fifteen minutes must quarantine. Are there many classmates involved? Then it is also possible that your school and the municipal health service decide that the entire class must quarantine. They will inform you about what happens next and when you need to be tested.

Your school may also choose to hold lessons at locations other than the school building. For example, to ensure that the rules are followed more effectively. These could include sports halls, community centres or churches.

Would you like to know why you have to keep your distance from your classmates at school, but not outside? We have explained this on the why-questions page.

Why were the schools closed?

There were too many new infections and too many people with coronavirus in hospital. That is why there is currently a lockdown. Closing the schools meant that you had less contact with people your own age. This reduced the chance of passing the virus on to one another. You also no longer had to travel on public transport. That also results in far fewer contacts between people.

Will I still have online lessons after 1 March?

That depends on your school. The schools will be open at least 1 day a week. But they will be open as much as possible. This means you may have in-person lessons several days a week. But it is also possible that you will continue to take many lessons online. Your school will inform you about this.

Is it not pleasant at home? Are you having a lot of trouble following the online lessons? Or is there another reason why homeschooling is not suitable for you? Tell your mentor or a teacher. Together, you can look at whether it is also possible for you to attend school for more days. When you go to school, keep your distance from your teachers and from your peers as well.

What will happen with the 2021 final exams?

The final exams will go ahead in almost the same format as in previous years. However, there are a few adjustments. The three most important adjustments are:

  • Exams are normally held in one examination period. This coming year there will be three. You can take your exams during the first two examination periods. If, for example, you are in quarantine or have missed many lessons, you can decide together with your school to postpone an exam to the second examination period. You can take resits during examination periods 2 and 3.
  • Normally, you may resit one central final exam. This coming year, you may resit two.
  • One non-core subject does not have to count towards your final result. In short: if you use this option, that grade cannot cause you to fail.

Are you following practical education? Those central exams will not take place. The attainment targets will not be cancelled. They will now be assessed through the school exams.

For other adjustments, visit the website of LAKS.