Students of grades 1-3 may go schools, if want

The students of grades 1-3 will be able to go to schools, if the parents of the students want, the ministry of education said on Friday.

The decision reversed an emergency law declared by the government on March 16.

The state of emergency was declared following the outbreak of coronavirus and decided to close down all the educational institutions from Wednesday to April 13.

The emergency law said only students in that age group whose parents' jobs are critical to the functioning of society were allowed to attend school, with the rest to receive tuition remotely, reported national broadcaster yle.

The amendment will be effective from March 23.

The Ministry said that according to the updated policy it is not mandatory for the students of grade 1 to 3 to go back to school.

The government, however, still recommended distance learning for all including those in grades 1-3.