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A student from the Galilee Crane examining a corona as part of an education shield. The condition for the program – the consent of 70% of the parents in the school
At this stage, Nof Hagalil (until recently called Upper Nazareth) is the only local authority where the project operates in all schools. As part of this, samples arrive at the city’s educational institutions and check once a week the total of 7,000 students and teaching staff who have not been vaccinated or recovered.
In some authorities it operates in some schools but not in all. These are Tel Aviv-Yafo, Rehovot, Ma’ale Adumim, Ramat Gan, Yokneam Illit, Eilat, Rama, Mevaseret Zion, Hod Hasharon, Hadera, Yeruham, Jerusalem, Ramat Hasharon, Merhavim, Lod, Kochav Hashahar and Harish.
Back to the test case of the Galilee landscape. The city entered the project at a good starting point: 86% of its teachers and 95% of municipal employees in the education system were vaccinated. 5% of teachers have recovered and are not required to be tested. On Monday, the Corona testing complex was operated at Carmel Elementary School in Nof in the city. Out of the 200 students tested, one verified student was diagnosed and yesterday (Wednesday) tests were conducted in additional schools. He was sent to solitary confinement with his capsule, but all other students continued to study. as usual.
“If we were not in Magen Lachinuch, the student would have infected the entire school,” said the principal, Nurit Yaakov. “The student has no symptoms and without the test, no one could have known that he was positive for the virus.”
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A student in the Galilee landscape examining a corona. 95% of students are tested once a week
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Galilee landscape. “Students are fully protected”
Corona Commissioner Yevgeny Komernetsky says it was not easy to persuade everyone to participate in the program, but in the end, more than 85% of parents in all schools agreed – higher than the required 70% target. Mayor Ronen Plot, who spoke in person with some of the parents who objected, says: “The turnaround was last Tuesday when the city was declared red for the first time, but schools continued to operate as usual thanks to our being in the program. The Galilee landscape returned to yellow this week. The parents’ response to participate in the program. ”
The principal of the “Carmel” school in the city, Nurit Yaakov, said that 95 percent of the students and the educational staff are examined once a week, thus enabling an educational continuum. “It is important to provide a social emotional response and reduce gaps, even on challenging days when we are asked to maintain social distance,” she said.
Ayala Zellinger, principal of Begin School in the city, said that the program guarantees protection: “We know that the students are fully protected, the chain of infection stops at the very beginning and the educational continuum is maintained.”
Cynthia Shrikki, Yahav’s mother in fourth grade and Nitai in second grade at Carmel School, admits that she initially opposed the program: “I did not want the children to experience a corona test when I was not with them but over time and in light of the data I realized that “Their health. I send my children to school every morning with complete confidence to a place where there are no verified patients.” And her son Yahav does not complain either: “The test is not painful at all and even tickles me. It is better than being in isolation”
The Merhavim Regional Council is also learning to recognize the program in some of the educational institutions. Nahalim School joined the project after 11 verified students were located there about a month ago.
“Throughout the year they were verified, but there was no infection within the school,” says school principal Nehorai Elyakim. “This time we felt the effect of the mutations on the infection chain. If there were once isolated cases, now one infection has led to school closure within a week, even though everyone Follow all the rules. ”
“All this could have been avoided if we had located the infected in time,” Elyakim continues, “I assume that if ‘Education Shield’ had existed before the infection, then we would have seen isolated cases inside the capsule and that would have ended. The main problem was siblings who managed to infect and paste the capsules Others. “
“The program is important and requires the cooperation of all parties,” said Shai Hajaj, head of the Merhavim Regional Council and chairman of the Center for Regional Councils. “It allows education frameworks to continue to operate, even if they are in the Red Authority.” The tests are suitable for children, the stick is no longer long. Something really delicate. The experience for the children in the spaces is very positive. The examiners who arrive are very sensitive. “
Schools on the streets were among the first in the country to participate in the pilot of “Magen Hinuch”. As of this week the project has expanded and already includes nine schools. The city reported positive experience and an intention to expand to all schools on the streets.
Ophir Bichler, principal of Bereishit School in the city, says the program gives the school and parents a sense of security: “The staff and students are tested morning to evening. We get the results. The children are tested alone, without the parents. The test is done gently and sensitively. During the pilot period some students “By the parents but since then even the youngest children – in first grade – have become accustomed and are not afraid of the test, and they come alone. This program gives us a sense of solidarity and protection as a community and leads to a 100% participation rate of students in the school.”
Rehovot Mayor Rahamim Malul said that “Magen Hinuch” is the most effective tool for preventing illness in the education system: “In the schools where we implemented the program during the pilot phase, very positive experience was gained. At first there was suspicion from the parents but then they realized it was for the benefit of the students.”
In Ramat Gan, 19 elementary schools joined the program. The “Hamachil” school was the first to succeed in obtaining parental consent. “During distance learning we experienced complex difficulties that included learning gaps on the one hand and emotional challenges on the other,” says Ayala Elbaz, school principal. “Most parents and the educational staff see this program as the only way in the current conditions.”
“During the Corona period, we needed quite a few isolations,” Elbaz continues. “This greatly disrupted the agenda and returned to routine. Any such isolation required organization and was a great disappointment to everyone. Since entering the program, it has calmed teachers, me and parents. Kindergarten on March 2 To date, 3,105 students and teaching staff have been tested and three have been verified.
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Corona testing complex at a school in Rehovot. “Since entering the program, this has calmed the teachers”
But there are also authorities that encounter difficulties, for example Ganei Tikva. Council Chairman Lizzie Delricha lamented the state’s conduct: “Two weeks ago I was told – what a beauty, you are green at the traffic light so you should not accept the ‘Education Shield’ program. When we turned orange they told me that only yellow can the program be given.”
“The Ministry of Health claims that the sole responsibility for the program lies with the Ministry of Education,” Delrica continues, “but there they claim that the person in charge of the program is the Home Front Command. In the meantime, we do not have an ‘education shield’ “If they are not tested twice a week. If this plan is the solution, it should be introduced in all schools – not just a green or yellow traffic light. After all, switching colors can be a matter of days.”
After a struggle led by parent groups across the country over the closure of hundreds of classrooms and kindergartens, local authorities such as Ness Ziona, Beit She’an and others decided to condition the entry of teaching staff on immunization or corona testing. The type of employees varies from authority to authority.
In Petah Tikva, Mayor Rami Greenberg clarified that his directive also requires education workers employed by the Ministry of Education. “We have instructed all teaching staff – both PA and Ministry of Education staff – to get vaccinated,” he said. “We work with all the tools at our disposal so that those who refuse to get vaccinated or take tests twice a week will not come into contact with students.”
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Ganei Tikva Council Chairman Lizzie Delricha. Complaints about bureaucracy in the “Shield of Education” program
(Photo: Kobi Cuenx)
Following a warning letter sent by Adv. Tal Kadesh, representing parents of children in the Tel Aviv education system, and the increase in the number of those infected in the city’s education system, the municipality announced that assistants, secretaries and administrative staff will be required to present a certificate of immunization Of a corona examination conducted in the last 72 hours.Municipal teachers are not included in this guideline.