Schools are starting to prepare for different scenarios for starting the school year during the COVID-19 pandemic, but if the epidemiological situation leads to a return to remote training, it would not be acceptable that the digital technology be paid by the teachers, said Inga Vanaga.
She said that, following the government-approved recommendations, schools are starting preparations, but the possibilities differ between schools. Plus, these are just recommendations, not law.
Vanaga said that LIZDA would like a national indicator to when remote training should be introduced, rather than leaving this decision to the municipalities, because “for some, 8 ill people may be nothing serious, for others it may seem a lot, but this will affect many teachers, parents, pupils”.
She explained that remote and semi-remote work imposes additional duties on teachers, but no one talks about it.
LIZDA and the Ministry of Education surveys show that during remote training the load increases significantly, there is a need for communication with parents and feedback to pupils, and educators speak of burnout, said Vanaga.
This should be taken into account if remote training is to be re-introduced, teachers' assistants and help to educators need to be considered, since teachers paying for technology and software use would not be acceptable.
