In Which Cases Can a Student Not Attend School: Guidance from the Ministry of Education and Science

The Ministry of Education and Science has published guidance regarding the organization of activities in public educational institutions under conditions of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which outlines rules for students.

According to these rules:

1. Attendance at school is excluded for a student with a parental or legal representative's application in the following cases:
• a. If the student has any illness in the risk group for coronavirus, specifically:
  - Hypertension
  - Diabetes
  - Heart diseases
  - Stroke
  - Chronic respiratory diseases
  - Cancer
• b. If there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the household.
• c. If there is a family member in the household at risk of COVID-19 and there is a relevant recommendation from a healthcare institution.
2. For students for whom attendance at school is indicated as unsuitable according to the first point, education will be organized through remote or home schooling methods. Remote education will be organized centrally, following the regulations established by the Minister of Education and Science on May 20, 2020, No. 09-N for the organization of distance education in public educational institutions. In the case of private educational institutions, remote or home education can be organized directly by the school.
3. By September 5 of this year, schools must submit the data of the students who are not required to attend school to the National Center for Educational Technologies of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
4. Before coming to school, parents or legal representatives must measure the child’s temperature, and if it is 37 degrees Celsius or higher, they should contact the child's registered healthcare organization and inform the school about the child's absence.
5. A student must wear a mask, either single-use or reusable, when arriving at school. Entry to the school without a mask is prohibited. Students without masks will be provided with single-use masks at the school entrance.
6. A student can be accompanied by no more than one person. The entry of the accompanying person into the school is prohibited, except for students who require special educational conditions.
7. In case of a student's absence, the homeroom teacher must notify the school nurse or director, who will then inform the relevant healthcare organization.
8. Students accept the changes, new requirements, and follow them appropriately, given the situation.
9. Students support their peers who have recovered from illness and returned to school.
10. During their time at school, if students experience symptoms of infection, they should inform the teacher or their parents.
11. Students follow information about the pandemic from reliable sources.
12. Students do not share personal belongings and stationery with classmates.
13. Parents reinforce their children's newly acquired hygienic behavior during their time at home.
14. Parents maintain structured communication with teachers and support the maintenance of a healthy and safe school environment.