Mental health fear over school masks
A SENIOR Conservative has said he fears mask-wearing in schools could damage children’s mental health – as the Government insisted the extra precaution would help keep pupils learning.
Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons education select committee, said the risks from Covid-19 need to be balanced against the risks to children’s wellbeing.
He made the comments as the Government announced masks will return for secondary school students in England’s classrooms on a temporary basis this term.
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said he would rather have masks worn in classrooms than children out of school.
“I think in terms of schools, if the choice is between having masks at schools or children missing schools in huge numbers, of course we want to keep pupils learning. That’s got to be the priority,” he said.
The news comes as health minister Ed Argar said he saw ‘nothing’ in the current data to suggest further restrictions were needed.
“We need cool, calm heads,” he said. “We need to look at the data and we need to do everything possible to avoid any restrictions.
Restrictions or curbs must be the absolute last resort. I’m seeing nothing at the moment in the data I have in front of me, in the immediate situation, that suggests a need for further restrictions. But that data changes day by day.
“I, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State, are looking at that data every single day. And we keep a close eye on it.”
Mr Halfon said: “My concern about masks is, first of all, that (children’s minister) Will Quince came to my committee in December and said that there was very limited evidence as to the efficacy of masks in educational settings.
“Even Jonathan Van-Tam said in November – so I’m not quoting from two years ago, before everyone knew what was going on – that masks were really inhibitory to the natural expressions of learning in children involving speech and facial expression, and that it’s very difficult for children with face masks.
“The (National Deaf Children’s Society) has said that they’re worried that deaf children’s education will suffer disproportionately under the mask advice.”
He added: “My big worry is that, while you’ve got to balance the risks of Covid, which are minimal, thank goodness, to kids – and we’ve got teachers and support staff vaccinated, many will have had the booster vaccination as well – so you’ve got to balance that on one side of the scale against the risks to children’s mental health.
“And there is a lot of evidence out there from Belgium, to Canada, to the United States, suggesting that masks on children have a damaging effect, or can have a negative effect on their mental health, their wellbeing, their ability to communicate, their emotional awareness.
“And that’s why I have worries about the mask policy.”