SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 4,200 people have requested, through the signature collection platform change.org, that classes at the University of La Laguna (ULL) be carried out electronically given the continuous rise in coronavirus infections in Tenerife and the declaration level 4 epidemiological alert.
The promoters point out that the ULL made the decision to advance the Christmas holidays by increasing infections at the end of December and now, “in a much less favorable climate, with more incidence and more infections per day, especially in young people”, decides that classes continue in person, “a somewhat illogical decision.”
Along these lines, they state that in classes the minimum interpersonal safety distance recommended by health authorities is not always respected, there is no disinfection of seats and sometimes students are seen without masks indoors.
“These events that have been happening since the beginning of the course demonstrate the impossibility of guaranteeing the safety of the students, despite many preventive measures that are applied,” they detail.
In addition, they comment that the protocol of postponing the tests to positive ones in SARS-CoV-2 supposes a “violation” of the principle of equal opportunities since once the student joins he will have all the tests in a short time, “being thus more difficult to perform adequately in the tests “.
“We, as a group of students of the ULL, prefer, in a sanitary safe scenario, the presence of the classes. However, it supposes a real risk to attend the face-to-face classes taking into account the epidemiological situation that the Canary Islands are currently experiencing”, they point out .
For this reason, they demand that the ULL, which “ensures the safety” of its students, opts for a telematic teaching model, “not only for the safety of its students, but also for simple social work that avoids the increase in infections in the archipelago “.
THE ULL MAINTAINS THE PRESENTIALITY
The ULL, through social networks, underlines that the Ministries of Health and Education agreed that the classes are face-to-face at all levels and in the case of the Laguna Center, it was agreed that students infected by Covid-19 can receive education on line certifying your medical situation.
In addition, if students who have a positive antigen test cannot contact the Canary Islands Health Service, a PCR test will be processed through the Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands.
The institution clarifies that “it is prepared” to move to online activity when dictated by the health authorities and in the meantime, the face-to-face format is maintained as is the case in the rest of the country and at all levels.
