Minister’s ‘expectation’ of a return to face-to-face lessons
WALES Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said it is the Welsh Government’s “expectation” that there will be face-to-face learning in schools after Christmas.
In Wales, secondary schools and colleges moved to online learning from Monday following advice from the Welsh chief medical officer that the public health situation in the country is “deteriorating”.
And concerns have been raised about what will happen in the spring term after Christmas if Wales goes into a level 4 lockdown.
At the Welsh Government coronavirus briefing on Monday, Mr Gething said the Welsh Government expected schools to go back to face-to-face teaching.
He said: “We have been clear that there is not a public health rationale for closing primary schools.
“There may be individual situations if the staff are not available, if there is an outbreak amongst a staff group.
“Generally, there is not a public health case to close schools, and if you do there is a direct impact on essential staff.
“Even if we are in a firebreak or lockdown period.”
“If you have primary schools closed, it isn’t just frontline and primary care staff, you have to think about food retail, essential services where lots of working parents need the schools to operate.”
As regards secondary schools, he said he wanted them to operate as “normally as possible”.
“We do know, as we move into January, we are not anticipating a large community mixing event like Christmas,” he said.
“We know it has a significant impact on the health and well-being of children if the secondary schools are not operating in a normal manner.
“That is why the choice we have made is extraordinary for this week. The serial testing that I have announced should give people more confidence.”
From January, rapid coronavirus testing will be rolled out widely in schools and colleges across Wales.
The plans would see pupils and staff identified as close contacts asked to either self-isolate as normal or take a lateral flow test at the start of the school day for the duration of the selfisolation period.
Those who test negative would be able to continue going to school as normal, while those who test positive would have to self-isolate and also book a confirmatory test.
Schools and colleges will be offered support, training and the equipment needed.
Mr Gething added: “I hope we’ll see that deliberate choice we are making highlights the importance this government places on education, and highlights our desire that everyone has the confidence they need to return to learning in that secondary school environment.”