Education

Ministry starts quick tests with students

To allow the resumption of physical teaching, the Cabinet plans to run trials with quick tests on campuses, starting in Groningen. Possibly TU Delft will be next.

(Photo: Dalia Madi)

Minister Van Engelshoven selected three cities where universities of applied sciences, universities and ROCs (regional education centres) can jointly set up quick test centres. These are Groningen, Delft and Amsterdam. The idea is that both students and staff can be tested.

The Minister says that the objective is to see if more space can be created to allow for physical teaching again. She announced this this week in the House of Representatives.

Groningen will bite the bullet next week. It will start with 100 students from the university being invited for a test 24 hours before a physical exam. They will receive the results within three hours. The standard corona restrictions will still be applicable for all students during the exam, even if they are tested negative. Depending on the pilot, the decision will be taken on whether to use the quick test locations for practical courses too.

Don’t start celebrating yet
There are, as yet, no such concrete plans in TU Delft. A spokesperson announced that TU Delft and the GGD (Community Health Services) are looking into options for tests. “The idea of having these type of tests in TU Delft was born in December. They have been thinking about it for much longer in Groningen.”

At the consultation meeting of the Executive Board, the Works Council and the Student Council on 10 December, Executive Board Chair Tim van der Hagen said that quick tests would not be run at TU Delft before the third trimester.

HOP, Hein Cuppen / Delta

HOP Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau

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