Sweden allows remote learning for secondary-school pupils

Schools in Sweden are now allowed to conduct remote learning for secondary-school pupils, the government said on Thursday, reported Xinhua.

The aim of the new rules, which will come into force on Monday when spring term begins, is to help avoid crowding in schools and on public transport, Minister for Education Anna Ekstrom told a press conference.

This is the first time the government allows pupils from compulsory education to be taught remotely, but younger children below year seven will still be obliged to go to school.

Ekstrom stressed that it is up to the heads of individual schools to decide whether or not secondary-school pupils, aged between 13 to 15, should be taught remotely.

"This new rule is an opportunity and not an obligation," Ekstrom said, pointing out that the rule does not apply to special-needs pupils and that schools should take children's ages, needs and other circumstances into consideration when deciding how to conduct lessons during the pandemic.

"It is a very difficult situation. Our attitude has always been that it's best if schools can stay open as much as possible," Ekstrom said.

Meanwhile, high schools and further education colleges, which are not compulsory in Sweden, are to continue remote learning until Jan. 24.

Sweden has confirmed 12,536 new coronavirus cases since Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 482,284, according to the latest figures from the Swedish Public Health Agency.