Sofia, December 15 (BTA) - As of Wednesday, in-person training will be available to classes where 30 per cent of the students agree to return to school and get tested for COVID-19 or present a green certificate - a document of vaccination, illness, antibodies, or a negative laboratory test. The new condition enters into force on December 15, as decided on December 9 by the Ministry of Education and Science, trade unions and employers in the education system at a sectoral meeting of the Council for Tripartite Cooperation.     

Until now, if 50 per cent of students did not have consent for testing or a green certificate, the class remained in e-learning, which harmed those who wanted to study in person. By reducing the requirement, more children willing to comply with health authorities will return to school, who are now at home due to the refusal of their classmates or their parents to test for COVID-19 once a week.  

Those who refuse the sparing tests will continue to study online. According to the guidelines for training in the conditions of an emergency epidemic situation, synchronous or asynchronous education will be provided for these pupils, depending on the school.    

The Ministry of Education and Science announced on Tuesday that the necessary tests have already been provided for testing all students in the country for COVID-19 by the Christmas holidays.

Over 564,000 students from first to twelfth grade are already studying in-person. That's nearly 82 per cent of all students in the country, the Ministry said on Tuesday.

RY/MT