The People’s Advocate for children’s rights, Maia Banarescu, considers that, it is necessary to suspend the education process in pre-school, secondary and high school institutions, as it is advisable to avoid crowded and overcrowded places in order to reduce the risks of infection with COVID -19. However, hundreds of children and dozens of teachers are included in educational institutions, and avoiding contacts is difficult or almost impossible. Moving children to school and home on public transport also involves risks of contamination.
Maia Banarescu also draws attention upon the fact that, some schools do not have adequate conditions for hygiene, such as the lack of hot water or even cold water, soap, disinfectants, or the fact that, predominantly in rural localities, the sanitary blocks are located in the yards of the schools. In such circumstances, children are at real risk of contamination with the new type Coronavirus infection, because it cannot be ensured the observance of the basic WHO recommendation on hand washing with soap, as frequently as possible, in order to prevent contamination.
At the same time, the Ombudsman also warns about the need for supervision of children at home by adults, which implies the granting of medical leave for parents / legal representatives.
The People’s Advocate for children’s rights further emphasizes the role of teachers, parents and medical professionals in informing children about measures to prevent contamination with the new type of Coronavirus, about the actions to be taken in case of symptoms of illness, and also the actions for public health supervision in national educational institutions.
Maia Banarescu calls on the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research to strictly monitor the enforcement of necessary measures within the educational institutions, in order to prevent cases of contamination with the new type of Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), implicitly disinfecting the premises, in compliance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Protection.
Department of human rights promotion
and communication
Tel.: 060002656
