The Ombudsman received a number of complaints about the resumption of  classes in schools and the wearing of masks by students

ArmInfo.The RA Ombudsman received a number of complaints from students and their parents in connection with the resumption of classes from September 15, 2020 and the mandatory requirement for students to wear masks in schools. The office of the human rights defender informs about it.

The Ombudsman considers it necessary to state that preventing and  combating the spread of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)  among children, both in schools and in general, are priority issues.   Nevertheless, taking into account the complaints sent to the human  rights defender, as well as the concerns of social media, in order to  formulate a holistic view of the organization of lessons in schools,  as well as to conduct monitoring in order to ensure the rights of  children, the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports  was sent several questions.

First, the ministry was required to provide legal regulation or other  adopted documents related to the wearing of masks in schools, as well  as adjustments that relate to the nature of the established  requirements and possible exceptions to these requirements. Questions  include whether the mandatory requirement to wear a mask in schools  will also apply to teachers; who will monitor the school's compliance  with mask wearing requirements by children and teachers, and how this  will be done both during lessons and during breaks; what expert,  including pedagogical and medical, discussions or research preceded  the requirement to wear a mask during classes, and what results they  had; what international requirements or experience were taken as a  basis in determining the requirement for children to wear masks  during classes, whether such studies were carried out; whether there  will be legal consequences for children who do not comply with the  requirements to wear a mask, if so, what consequences or, for  example, liability measures are in question, and in relation to whom  specifically they will be applied.

In addition, clarification is needed on how to ensure the right of  children to education who do not wear masks or do not comply with the  requirement to wear masks; whether schools will provide masks for  children or whether parents will be required to provide them. In this  regard, the Ombudsman notes that it is necessary to pay attention to  families with social problems, in particular, given the fact that  classes will be held in a 6-day working mode, and there is a need to  change the mask with a certain frequency during the day.

Questions are also raised whether there will be exceptions to the  mandatory requirement to wear a mask during classes, taking as a  basis, for example, the state of health of the child and medical  documents about him; whether education for children with disabilities  has been taken into account, for example, in schools that provide  inclusive education; how change will be organized.

In addition to the above, issues related to the organization of  compliance with other epidemiological rules were also voiced.