Students are locked in halls in some halls of Manchester Metropolitan University
The government should promise university students that they will be allowed to return home for Christmas, Labor said.
Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said it was not “imaginary” that students would be locked in the hall and not be able to see their families.
Thousands of students are currently in lockdown at UK universities following a coronavirus outbreak.
The education department said it is working closely with universities.
Earlier this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock rejected the ban on students returning home at Christmas time, but added: “I don’t want this to happen and I hope we can avoid it.”
She was responding to a question about concerns that students were spreading Covid-19 after a local outbreak on campus.
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Robert Halfe, Conservative chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, said about 2,000 students were currently in lockdown at universities from Dundee to Exeter.
That includes about 1,700 students at Manchester Metropolitan University – where students say they are being prevented from leaving by security guards and police.
Many students expressed concern and confusion about the situation, with one saying they were “completely left in the dark”.
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In a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, Ms. Leela of Labor accused the government of failing to prepare for the possibility of the virus spreading among students.
“It’s very distressing that so many people no longer get the university experience they deserve and face the horrible possibility of being locked in their room without a chance to make new friends.”
“Universities have done everything possible to prepare students to return safely to campus, but the government has failed to play its role.
“You took the youth down with the exam fiasco during the summer, and now many of those same students have been brought down again. These youngsters are more appropriate than your disability.”
She called for:
- Adequate testing capacity in universities
- All students will be given the option to study from a distance
- The government will consider delaying the start of universities that have just returned
And on Christmas, he added, the government should work with universities to ensure every student has access to testing to allow safe travel.
Earlier this week, Sir Mark Walport, the government’s scientific adviser, warned that virus hotspots could force students to stay on campus on Christmas Day.
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‘We had no warning’
The Manchester Matt said it introduced a 14-day self-isolation period at its residences in Birley and Cambridge Hall after 127 students tested positive for the virus.
Byrne, a first-year student there, said: “We have not received any warnings, support or advice from the university about how we get food, and instead have been left completely in the dark and practically locked against our will. “
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Hundreds of students at the University of Glasgow are also separating
University campuses are placed in social distance measures
Another student, Megan Tingy, said she had not been contacted by the university about the before-downs before police returned to her residence.
“It was absolutely scary and confusing,” he said. “Actually no one told us much and then the police do security outside as well.”
Thousands more students from England are entering the university this week for a new term – but the big question is whether they should move in the opposite direction and study from home.
Is it wise or justifiable for universities to bring students back if they are at increased risk of covid eruption and self-isolation?
An epidemic has already broken out, with housing blocks, shared facilities and filled with young people wanting to be social. So should brakes be applied to prevent this pattern from recurring?
But after enrolling a record number of students and promising them a combination of online and face-to-face education, universities are turning to a very annoying U-turn to return to the academic equivalent of working from home.
And does that mean a refund on housing and tuition fees?
There are likely to be some chaotic days ahead – and some big decisions will be made about whether to reduce the number on campus. And students must be amazed at how they’ve gone from agreeing to university all summer long now.
In a statement, the Manchester Met said he had communicated with the students “as soon as possible, but it was not possible to give a significant advance notice due to the need to implement the separation almost immediately”.
“The communications we have sent include details on how to access food and other provisions, and we are working with other partners, including local supermarkets, throughout the day to provide additional support,” the statement said.
“Our security teams will step up patrols to support the downfall and take disciplinary action against anyone who violates the law.”
Hundreds of students at the University of Glasgow are also being separated by two coronavirus clusters.
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The university said it would grant four weeks’ rental to all students on university residences, recognizing the “difficult circumstances” under which they were living.
It said it would give students £ 50 each to spend on food and would invite local mobile food outlets to come to the accommodation.
Across Scotland, students have been told not to rent pubs, parties or rest restaurants on weekends. Universities Scotland has said that students who lose their place at university with anyone outside their home are at risk.
A spokesman for the education department said: “The government is working closely with universities to ensure that students are well prepared to return, and we have published guidelines to help keep students and staff as safe as possible.
“Students should follow the latest health advice, just like the general public, which means they must stay at the university if they have symptoms, isolate, have additional restrictions imposed locally, or have an epidemic spread on or off campus. .
“We will closely monitor the situation and follow the advice of Public Health England, adapting policies to best support students and providers.”
