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Minister Michael Gove says he hopes to stick to the plan outlined
A teachers union has urged the government to delay its plan to reopen schools in January, amid concerns about safety during the latest Covid outbreak.
But speaking on Monday, the Minister of the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said the government expects the staggered reopening of schools in England it will take place next month as planned.
Downing Street officials and the Department of Education are due to discuss the issue Monday amid concerns about the spread of a new strain of coronavirus.
Earlier this month, the government said that exam-year students would return to school normally after the Christmas break, but the most high school students would start the quarter online to allow principals to implement massive testing of children and staff.
NASUWT Secretary General Dr. Patrick Roach wrote to the Education Secretary on Monday demanding more action on school safety.
The letter calls on Gavin Williamson to allow schools to move to remote learning for all students, except those deemed vulnerable or the children of key workers, in higher-level areas.
“Delaying the return of students to schools and universities at the beginning of the spring term will also allow all school and university employers to conduct and consult as necessary on new risk assessments and will ensure that they can comply with the new measures or requirements. contained in any upcoming national orientation, “he says.
The union is also calling on the government to issue new safety guidelines in light of tThe new variant of Covid-19, more infectious, introduce mandatory face covers in schools and give staff priority access to the vaccine.
Speaking before the letter was published, Gove told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today show that the government was confident that primary school pupils and Year 11 and Year 13 pupils in England would be able to return in the first week of January, and the rest would return later. in the month.
“Our intention is to make sure that we can get the children back to school as soon as possible,” he said.
“We are talking with teachers and principals to make sure we can deliver effectively. But we all know that there are tradeoffs.
“As a country we have decided – and I think this is the right thing to do – that we give priority to children who go back to school.
“But we have a new strain and it is also true that we have also had, although in a very limited way, Christmas mixes, so we have to be vigilant.
“We are confident that we will be able to put the schools back in good shape. Our plan and our calendar are there, and we are working with the teachers to fulfill them. “
He told Sky News: “We always keep things under review, but the teachers and principals have been working incredibly hard over the Christmas period since the schools were disbanded in order to prepare for a new testing regimen, community testing, to make sure that children and all of us are safer. “
Scientists have suggested that the mutated coronavirus strain could more easily infect children.
The National Education Union has previously said that the government should allow schools to move classes online for most students for fifteen days in January to allow Covid-19 cases to decline.
The Labor Party has criticized the Prime Minister for “not being clear” about the scientific advice he received amid reports that SAGE urges schools to remain closed.
Kate Green MP, Labor Shadow Secretary of Education, said: “Labor has made it clear that keeping students learning must be a national priority, but a litany of government failures, from lack of funding for security measures to the delayed and chaotic announcement of tests is putting the education of young people at risk.
“It is time for the Prime Minister to control the situation and show some leadership.
“The country needs to hear from you today, along with the medical director and chief scientific advisor, on the evidence on the spread of the virus, how it plans to minimize disruption to education, and a clear strategy for supported schools and universities. of parents, students and staff ”.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the government’s Emergency Scientific Advisory Panel, said the arguments for reopening schools in January were “very well balanced.”
He said: “Certainly my own opinion is that opening schools is a top priority. But society, and eventually this is a political decision, will have to balance keeping schools open, if that’s possible, with closing other parts of society.
“It will be an exchange between one or the other. You can’t have it all. You cannot have the opening of the whole society, the opening of schools and more education and universities, and keep R below 1 with this variant “.
