The school year began today for about 1.2 million students from more than five thousand public schools and high schools.

According to the Ministry of Public Education, students must meet all health guidelines to avoid more infections of covid-19 for safe return to classrooms. 

The protocols include: hand washing, optional use of facemasks, and anyone with covid-19 symptoms should not go to school.

Parents can now access the online School Calendar on the ministry website. The document includes all activities and dates relevant to educational issues.

Parents, teachers and drivers should work together to ensure that kids are traveling to school in safe buses, according to the campaign "Viajando Seguro a la Escuela," or traveling safely to school in the English language, launched by the Public Transport Council.

The campaign, by video and diagrams, provides a guide with points to take into account when checking on safety of vehicles or school buses.

The goal of this guide is for parents, teachers and community members to go beyond just investigating when hiring the bus school service. It is essential, before hiring a transport service, to verify that the company or driver meets all the lawful requirements.

Authorities will also publish a guide with preventive maintenance tips, and a list of requirements to approve the technical vehicle inspection, which is the minimum requirement to provide the student transportation service.

Parents can check online for school bus permits by visiting the Council's website on the "Servicios Especiales" option. Once there, enter the school bus plate number to obtain more information.

In addition, parents can also ask the driver to show them the permits, which must be visible on the windshield of the vehicle.

The information campaign on the advice for children to travel safely to class will also be shared on the Ministry of Public Transports' social media.

Traffic Police will be on the roads and highways carrying out their surveillance operation to protect children on their way to school, whether in their parents' car, traveling by school bus or public transportation.

In an attempt to prepare parents for back-to-school budgeting purposes, the Ministry of Economy carried out a study detailing what should be spent on the purchase of supplies and uniforms per student.

The school year will finish on Dec. 12, 2023.

 

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