RIGA, Mar 25 (LETA) - When the current state of emergency in Latvia is over, schools will again organize the teaching process in accordance with three models, Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska (New Conservative Party) told journalists Thursday. 

Latvia's schools already used A, B and C models during the first semester. In Suplinska's words, schools will be able to switch to these models again when the current Covid-19 emergency is lifted. 

"If the state of emergency is lifted, we can return to the system where each school assesses whether its infrastructure, teachers, readiness for epidemiological safety measures at school are sufficient and then make a decision," the education minister said.

Suplinska believes that this approach enables schools to manage their teaching process independently.

Model A envisages in-person classes, provided that the school can meet epidemiological safety requirements, including physical distancing, hygiene, health monitoring and proper student flows. At the same time, elements of distance learning can make up to 20 percent of the education process in grades 7 to 12. No distance learning options are envisaged in this model for grades one to six.

Model B envisages a partially remote learning process in cases where schools are unable to meet all the epidemiological requirements. In such cases, the learning process would take place both at school and remotely. In this model too, students in grades one to six would have to go to school, while for 7th to 12th grade students 40-60 percent of the learning process would take place at school and about as much remotely. In vocational schools, 60-80 percent of the teaching process would take place at school and distance learning would make up 20-40 percent.

Model C envisages distance learning for students of all grades. This model should be used in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak at a school or nationwide epidemiological measures.