MORE than 1.7 billion students worldwide have had their education interrupted by the coronavirus crisis, according to the UN, with most governments temporarily closing institutions in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease.

However while countries like Scotland, Spain, Ireland and Italy have no plans to re-open schools until after the summer break, pupils elsewhere are beginning to return to class.

The outlier in Europe is Sweden where schools never shut at all, although social distancing and extra hygiene measures have been put in place. The fatality rate from the disease in Sweden is higher than some countries but lower than in the UK, Italy, Spain, France and Belgium.

In Europe, 22 out of the 27 countries in the EU re-opened in waves over the last few weeks but seven schools in northern France were quickly closed again after they were linked to 70 new cases of the virus.

Around 30% of children in France started back when 40,000 preschools and primary schools were re-opened in the first phase with a maximum of 15 students allowed in class. Junior high schools in regions less affected by the virus are now being re-opened. Schools in Paris, one of the worst-hit areas, remain closed.

French pupils are sitting at least one metre apart while teachers wear masks. Masks are mandatory for children over the age of 11. High school students over the age of 15 are to continue learning remotely for the time being.

Last month, elementary schools in Denmark were the first to re-open in Europe although some parents claimed their children were being used as guinea pigs and older pupils should have gone back first. Classes are being held outside where possible. Older children returned on May 18 after it was found that the first three weeks of schooling had not contributed to a rise in the reproduction rate of the virus.

Germany also started to re-open schools last month but took a different tack from Denmark by allowing older children to return first on the grounds they were more able to comply with mask-wearing and social-distancing rules.

Mask regulations vary by state and leaders at one high school have asked students to self-administer Covid-19 tests twice a week, sending home those who test positive.

All children in Germany are expected to return before the summer break but the spread of the disease has been halted more successfully there than in the UK. There are national guidelines for schools re-opening but as education is managed under a devolved system, the government of each state can decide exactly when.

In the Netherlands, schools re-opened on May 11 with pupils attending for half the week and learning from home the rest of the time. They attend for full days to minimise the movement of pupils and parents. While school staff are expected to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from each other and from students, pupils under the age of 12 are not required to socially distance from each other.

Greece, Belgium and Austria are all starting lessons in a staggered way in the coming weeks. Switzerland has also begun a phased return while tiny Luxembourg has opened all its high schools after testing every one of its 8500 senior pupils. Primary pupils are due to return tomorrow. Younger children went back to school in Norway last month with senior pupils returning this month.

High schools have re-opened in Cyprus but the re-opening of some schools in Israel was boycotted by some parents who said not enough safety measures were in place.

In Asia, schools in Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China and some parts of Japan are open. Schools in Taiwan re-opened as far back as February after a closure of just two weeks. Children disinfect their shoes and hands before going into the buildings, masks are mandatory and the pupils eat lunch behind dividers on their desks.

South Korea’s control of the virus has not been as successful with dozens of schools in the city of Incheon closing hours after re-opening, due to new infections.

Masks are worn by pupils and teachers in China, temperatures are checked regularly and tables in the dining halls now have

plastic dividers.

In Australia, schools are re-opening in phases and in many places students are attending for just one day per week in order to maintain social distancing within classrooms.

Schools re-opened in New Zealand last week and in Canada schools have started to re-open, although teachers and some parents have expressed fears over how safe they are.

In the US, President Donald Trump has been pushing state governors to start opening schools this month but many have recommended or mandated school closures for the rest of the academic year, with some districts warning they may not even re-open after the summer break. The chancellor of schools in New York City, which has been badly hit by the virus, said there was only a 50/50 chance of bringing pupils back in September.

As part of his drive to re-open the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Brazil’s fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro has advocated the re-opening of military and civic-military secondary schools. His intention is that this will lead to the re-opening of all schools in Brazil and pave the way for the re-opening of business in general.

In Chile, teachers, parents and students have defied the government’s orders to go back to school.

Schools are staying closed in India until at least the end of this month and Iran has extended school and university closures in its continuing fight to halt the spread of the virus. Schools and universities in Pakistan remain closed with some education experts warning they may stay shut for six months as the system is not equipped to deal with the crisis.