Elementary and high school students across the country may return to school in person from Sept. 1 under the newly adopted governmental protocols against COVID-19, including mandatory mask-wearing, temperature-taking, and ventilation, Minister of Education and Science Mila Carovska told Sitel TV on Tuesday evening.

Minister Carovska said the Government adopted the protocols earlier on Tuesday and said attending school in person was “the most desirable scenario.”

The intention of the Ministry of Education and Science, Carovska said, was to ensure the continuity of the education process as well as to protect the health of students, teachers, and parents.

Two other options were also considered, Carovska said, adding that the Commission for Infectious Diseases would ultimately decide on how to proceed.

According to the education minister, if the epidemiological situation worsens, fifth- to ninth-grade students would go back to online classes.

Another option being considered was hybrid learning – in which groups of students rotate across in-person and online instruction.

Carovska pointed out that different public health protection protocols were designed for all three scenarios, adding that the public would receive “timely information” about the details.