"There is still a lack of communication and forward planning", said the OGBL Teachers' Union "Syndikat Erzéiung a Wëssenschaft" (SEW) at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. Both teachers and parents have lost faith in the Ministry of Education.
The reopening of schools had come as a surprise. While in-person classes are preferable to remote learning, the safety measures are insufficient and educators feel exposed to risk, said Patrick Arendt, the SEW president.
A further point of criticism is the use of CO2 detector lights in classrooms rather than air filters. These are meant to indicate when the room should be aired, but in many schools, windows cannot be opened or only open partially. Air filters would provide much more safety, Patrick Arendt argued.
According to the Ministry of Education, these air filters are designed for sterile rooms such as operating rooms. An analysis by the Health Ministry concluded they were not appropriate for classrooms.
The SEW further demanded that exams in cycle 4 should not take place, much like last year. This would take some pressure off students and parents, especially as schools might have to close again later on.
It is clear that some students have knowledge gaps and the strategy developed to help those who have fallen behind is not having the desired effect, said Joëlle Damé from the SEW.
The lack of transparent communication is a further sticking point. According to Isabelle Bichler, substitute teachers are not always informed when there has been a positive case in a class they are meant to teach - this is especially problematic as these teachers move from class to class or even school to school.
The responsibility to inform these teachers should lie with the Ministry of Education or the school principal's office, says Isabelle Bichler. But according to the Ministry, substitute teachers are treated no differently than normal teachers. If a class is isolated due to a single case, all teachers and students must wear a mask, including substitute teachers, said Lex Folscheid from the Ministry. If a class is quarantined, the kids are at home and no substitute is needed.
The SEW suggested organising a panel in order to discuss these issues. According to Lex Folscheid, everyone concerned is already being consulted, but he was not opposed to the idea.
