Schools across Balkans reopen after virus shutdown

Primary schools have reopened in the Balkans with social distancing measures in place, amid fears of a fresh wave of the coronavirus.

A system of staggered hours in Serbia has frustrated working parents. Grades one to four started lessons on Tuesday morning, while grades five to eight were set to start in the afternoon.

Parents must drop off and pick up their children from school, where masks are mandatory for pupils in public areas, though not in classrooms.

Teachers have to wear masks all the time.

Attending classes is not mandatory, with online teaching and teaching via a state-run TV channel being offered as an alternative.

Yet about 95 percent of parents have decided to send their children to school anyway, mostly due to work obligations.

Many parents are frustrated due to a lack of after-school facilities for children waiting to be picked up by their parents.

An independent teachers' union has also expressed fears that the preventive measures are not strong enough to prevent new virus clusters from emerging.

In neighbouring Bosnia, children in grades from one to four will attend classes in smaller groups and mandatory face masks.

Children in grades five to eight will follow online teaching for the next two weeks before the situation is reassessed.

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