BACK TO SCHOOL
Sturgeon boosts anxious parents and fed-up kids with August 11 date
SCOTS pupils and their parents were given a lockdown boost yesterday after it was confirmed schools are to reopen on August 11.
And First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she expected all schools to be delivering full-time education by August 18 “at the latest”, as some council areas will be given an extra week to roll out a phased return.
Larry Flanagan, the general secretary of the EIS trade union, reacted cautiously to the news.
He said: “Many teachers and parents will be understandably nervous about a return to the classroom.”
Sturgeon’s statement to Holyrood came after schools closed in March as part of the country-wide lockdown.
Her Government initially suggested “blended” learning – a combination of home and class-based schooling – would be in place from August 11.
But a backlash by parents forced the Government to rethink their plan and prioritise full-time schooling.
In a statement at Holyrood, said: “It is a moral and educational imperative that we get children back to school as soon as is safely possible.
“I am therefore very pleased to confirm today that schools will return from August 11.
“Given how long children have been out of school, some local authorities may opt for a phased return over the first few days, but we expect all pupils to be at school full time from August 18 at the latest.”
The decision was made following scientific evidence and advice on safety.
Every school will have to carry out a risk assessment and enhanced hygiene and cleaning arrangements will be put in place.
Primary school pupils will not be required to physically distance from each other but, as a precaution, secondary schools will be advised to take steps to encourage distancing between young people.
Two-metre physical distancing between adults, and between adults and children and young people who are not from the same household, will be expected.
A surveillance programme is also being developed for schools for the purpose of carrying out regular testing.
Sturgeon said the back-to-Sturgeon school plan will be supported by £30million to recruit new school staff, bringing the total extra investment in the teaching profession to £75million.
Another £30million will be available for councils as part of a £50million “education recovery fund”, which will support cleaning, facilities management and school transport.
But she warned the original blended learning plan could be revived if the levels of the disease go up.
Sturgeon said: “I must be clear at this stage that no one can rule out the possible need for blended learning arrangements in future – either nationally or locally – if
there is a significant increase in Covid.”
Education Secretary John Swinney added: “We have been clear that the return to school is not a return to normal. The virus remains a threat and schools will feel different for both pupils and staff.
“However, the scientific evidence suggests that the prevalence of the virus among young people is much lower than among the older population, and that young people are less likely to transmit it.”
Flanagan said: “The decision to reopen schools is predicated on the current successful suppression of the virus but as we are seeing in parts of Europe, that situation can change quite quickly.”