Thread by @WoodfordinDK

I have been asked by @TalkerTeacher to do a #bced #thread on going to school in #Denmark during the age of #COVID19. I have done this before but it was suggested it would be good to go over it again and cover off anything new. I will begin by setting the stage.

First off B.C. and #Denmark can’t be compared in an apples to apples way. There are some drastic differences both societally, Denmark is a social welfare state, and how the school system itself is structured. Let’s start there. #bced

While #bced is a K-12 system #Denmark begins with grade 0 then runs to grade 9, primary school, then things get tricky. After grade 9 most Danish students take a year off or go to efterskole, schools specializing in one year music, sports, art etc. focused programs

After efterskole students can enter one of four streams of secondary school or Gymansium in Danish. Three of the streams are three years focusing on general education, the sciences, or economics/business. The fourth option is a two year program with a more vocational focus #bced

I will circle back to the social welfare state later. Now #COVID19 and schools in DK. Denmark’s Ed Min sent a letter to parents last week asking they cancel all social events related to school, leisure activities & youth education to stop the spread of #coronavirus #bced

As noted by health officials and the education minister here in #Denmark the bulk of a surge in #COVID19 infections are in the 10-29yo age group suggesting a back to school component, albeit with more of the concern among the older party set from secondary to uni. #bced

There have been to my knowledge six schools in Denmark where there have been students/staff who have tested positive. When a student tests positive the students in the class are sent home for testing/screening. The school is mandated to ensure distance learning. #bced

When a student tests positive other students and staff with direct contact will get tested twice. Once right away as an initial screening. The next about a week later. If both COVID tests are negative then everyone returns to school. #bced

For school staff or students who may have been in the vicinity of a student who tests positive but not had direct contract they too get tested as an immediate screening but just the once. Any positive tests obviously get dealt with through medical
care channels. #bced

As it turns out the screening even for asymptomatic students is important. There was a case here where a grade two student was tested as a precaution after coming into contact with an infected person. The student had no symptoms and tested positive. #bced

As for prevention any kids who are sick stay home. If a student is noticed to be sick or have symptoms at school they are sent home and can’t return until they are symptom free for two days. They even evaluate snot colour here. Clear is okay but green or yellow is not. #bced

The other main pillar of prevention is hygiene. Students wash their hands a LOT here beginning as soon as they arrive to school and then frequently throughout the day. So frequently there is even guidelines on using skin lotion to prevent skin irritation. #bced

Any commonly touched surface like a door knob for example or desktop or even frequently used items are cleaned as much as possible. The inside of the school is cleaned twice a day. In one school I am aware of who lost cleaning staff teams of teachers/staff do the cleaning. #bced

Mask use is not mandated in Danish schools. Where masks are mandated here is on public transit and standing/moving in restaurants and bars and even then it doesn’t apply to kids younger than 12yo. Classes are self contained now though and do not mix with other classes. #bced

The keeping classes self contained is a big issue here in Denmark. Schools are built as much around learning as creating social webs for kids with interclass play and mentorship between grades. There is a lot of consternation here about now not being able to do that. #bced

In schools and really everywhere in Denmark hand sanitizer is king. There are at least five bottles sprinkled around my son’s class including one at the door for parents. Initially in the spring when schools up to grade 5 reopened there were handwashing stations outside. #bced

Parents are not allowed inside schools. We drop our kids off and pick them up at a door of the school. There is one exception and that is on Fridays for parents of younger kids so they can clean out lockers and grab spare clothes to take home to wash etc. #bced

The one question I get a lot is, is there class size caps? No there is not. Initially in the spring class size was mandated by two meter social distancing, which created major spacing challenges. Today it is one meter and classes are more or less back to ‘normal’ #bced

The social distancing if observed at all now in Danish schools is mainly around when students are seated especially when eating, Once they are up and playing etc that all goes out the window making it largely redundant anyway. #bced

As an aside on class size here. Since having much smaller classrooms in the spring it has spawned a conversation about how much better smaller class sizes are. So who knows one impact of corona may be smaller classrooms in Denmark, which by #bced standards are not packed anyway

Being a social welfare state Denmark has its advantages and one of them seems to be schools not having to wrestle with lacking the basics with plenty of hand sanitizer, cleaning products, etc. The schools I have seen all seem very well supplied. #bced

Another advantage Denmark seemed to in part luck out on was introducing an online learning system last year pre-COVID. Danes are largely tech savvy anyway but when the pandemic struck they were able to transition to distance learning fairly painlessly #bced

The other thing that plays in their favour is Danes are not weather adverse and value being outside. Students have all sorts of weather clothing and it’s not uncommon no matter the rain or cold to see young children and teacher(s) out and about where it is safer from COVID #bced

Parents were very concerned about kids returning to school in the spring. That has largely dissipated since. Denmark hasn’t been perfect but back to school, knock on wood, has gone reasonably well. So I think that covers it. I hope that helps..