RIGA, Nov 25 (LETA) - Some local governments will have problems ensuring a 3 m2 distance between pupils, the director of the Sigulda State Gymnasium and president of the Latvian Association of School Directors (LIVA) Rudolfs Kalvans told LETA.

This morning in Sigulda, the possibilities of schools to ensure the requirements set by the government regarding full-time studies in the 1st-6th grades have been discussed with the leadership of the local government. It has been concluded that many schools in the municipality have the space to comply with the rules. In two schools it will be necessary to use a hybrid model, providing part of the curriculum remotely. Gymnasium facilities will also be used for several primary school classes.

The new requirements will also be discussed on LIVA's board level, and Kalvans acknowledged that other local governments will certainly have challenges in applying the regulations. Not all municipalities have access to large halls or other premises, so complications could also arise.

The head of the organization acknowledged that LIVA wants to invest its energy and good will in the development of the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations on the distance learning process. Even now, when adopting the new regulations, the Education and Science Ministry is not consulting with the social partners. "We want to put our common sense into it, and to talk. No school director wants to move fully to distance learning," Kalvans said.

According to him, the experience in the spring led to the conclusion that even seventh-grade students could not cope with distance learning, but in the smaller classes the situation could be compared to a state of war. This affects the learning of the curriculum, and distance learning for grades 1-6 would be disastrous, the school principal said.

At the same time, Kalvans acknowledged that it is not easy for the government to decide on new restrictions related to the spread of Covid-19, as the needs of parents, the health care and the economy must also be taken into account. Therefore, restrictions are being ''dripped bit by bit'' gradually in search of compromises. "But the glass may become full. We are all afraid of this," added the head of LIVA.

As reported, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the government decided on harsher restrictions in education and sports, as agreed by the Cabinet and the Crisis Management Council yesterday.

Starting from November 30, schools will have to ensure that the minimum floor space per pupil in classrooms is 3 square meters.