COVID U-turn for students is welcomed
Return home ruling‘is a start’
The Perth College student association president is“delighted” that those stuck in halls of residence now have the option to return home if they are “struggling”.
The Scottish Government previously announced students in designated accommodation should not return home as they now belonged to new households.
However, the government’s updated guidelines over the weekend state that students could return home for “wellbeing reasons” and “long-term stays”, if not selfisolating.
Perth College UHI has selfcatering and fully-furnished flats at its Crieff Road campus for 72 students and has reported no positive cases so far.
This comes despite over 49 positive coronavirus cases recently confirmed at Parker House in Dundee, with 500 students being told to quarantine, and three positive cases at nearby Meadowside Halls.
Students in Scotland are also being told not to go to pubs, parties or restaurants in a bid to stem the spate of outbreaks.
But HISA Perth president, Alex Wilson, said she was very pleased at the government U-turn.
She said: “HISA is delighted at the latest announcement from the Scottish Government, that students are now allowed to return home if they are struggling.
“This is a start in addressing the unfair blame which has been directed at students across the country, and a move towards protecting our student communities and safeguarding their mental wellbeing.
“Perth College UHI residences are run by Hostelling Scotland, who have worked very closely with the college to implement COVID appropriate measures.
“In line with these, our students across Perth College UHI are doing their very best given the circumstances, and their welfare is our main priority as always.
“HISA Perth encourages any students that are currently self-isolating to make sure they are being supplied with all essentials and to reach out if they are struggling due to the new regulations.
“Perth College UHI has also set up an online space dedicated for our students in residencies to interact safely with each other despite the external challenges.”
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), a partnership of 13 institutions including Perth College UHI, has had “a very small number” of students who have self-isolated in residences as a precaution over the last few weeks, but no positive COVID cases.
Perth College UHI will continue to be “vigilant” and support all students in light of the recent COVID outbreaks across the country.
A statement from the UHI partnership said: “Our strength is in delivering through blended learning combining video conferencing, inventive online technologies, real-time support from lecturers and local staff and some faceto-face teaching.
“This has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and we are well placed to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and our staff – this is our priority.
“We have the existing expertise, knowledge and practical skills to enhance the delivery of all courses across further and higher education, while still adhering and adapting to changing government guidelines.
“Over 90 per cent of our students would normally commute to our campuses across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, although this total number has significantly reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We have very small numbers of students living in student accommodation.
“These students have multiple points of contact with residences staff, local campus staff, their tutors and course staff as well has having access to regional and local facilities to support mental health and wellbeing.
“The students who live in the residences across our region have behaved extremely well under the current guidance.
“However, we continue to be vigilant and are supporting and advising all students on COVID-19 matters and urge them to follow Scottish Government guidelines.
“It is important that we all do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 to protect ourselves, each other and our communities.”
This is a start in addressing the unfair blame which has been directed at students