High school students in Slovenia will return to classrooms next week, the government said on Thursday, adding that all teachers and kindergarten carers will be vaccinated against coronavirus in a mass vaccination program.

After months without classes, secondary school students will begin attending in-person lessons every other week starting on Monday. Younger children will attend elementary school classes every working day, with sixth to ninth graders (aged 12-15) will be required to wear a mask at school, Education Minister, Simona Kustec, told reporters.

Mass vaccination of teachers in kindergartens and schools will kick off on Monday, starting with those aged 50 and above. After receiving the vaccine, teachers will continue to be tested on an ongoing basis every week.

The government has decided to ease coronavirus restrictions in schools after increased public pressure and experts’ warnings of the adverse effects on young people missing out on school.

On Thursday, Slovenia reported 1,019 new coronavirus cases confirmed over the previous 24 hours and four more deaths.

There are currently 511 hospitalized Covid-19 patients, including 86 attached to ventilators.