The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Exams cancelled as death toll rises
FIFE: Popular Newport Restaurant forced to close its doors
The scene at King’s Cross Hospital in Dundee where a drive-through testing centre is being established. Pictures – Dougie Nicolson.
The coronavirus crisis has forced the cancellation of exams in Scottish schools for the first time since 1888 as the death toll north of the border doubled.
Six people in Scotland have died after being diagnosed with the condition and 266 have been confirmed as having the infection.
In Fife, MasterChef winner Jamie Scott announced he was closing his Newport Restaurant – one of a number of businesses which have fallen victim to plummeting trade.
A row over the price of hand sanitiser in a Dunfermline shop sparked a wave of racist abuse against other Scottish traders.
And soft fruit growers and farmers said they were holding back on planting crops this week amid fears there will not be enough labour available to pick their produce at harvest.
Growers across Angus, Perthshire and Fife are urgently appealing for people who have been laid off as a result of the Covid-19 crisis to make themselves available.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for a “national endeavour” to get through the weeks and months ahead while Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted tougher restrictions might be needed if people failed to heed official advice.
Exams in Scotland’s schools this year have been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Education Secretary John Swinney announced.
He told MSPs at Holyrood the “unprecedented” move was a sign of the “gravity” of the situation.
Schools will close from the end of today, with Mr Swinney explaining “scientific advice now highlights that closing schools will help to suppress the spread of coronavirus”.
Scotland’s chief examining officer said work has started “at pace” to develop an alternative “certification model”.
Despite the closures, the education secretary said for most pupils teaching would continue, in many cases through online learning, but there would be a focus on pupils in S4-S6 who need to submit coursework.
Mr Swinney said: “Teachers and other staff who are well will continue to be working. Senior-phase pupils with coursework for national qualifications to complete will be informed by their schools how to complete this.”
Fiona Robertson, Scotland’s chief examining officer and chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), said teachers will give estimated grades to pupils, based on “the available evidence gathered throughout the year” and previous scores.
Pupils are still expected to receive their results no later than August 4.
Announcing a free post-results service to review grades, Ms Robertson said: “Everyone here at SQA will do their utmost, with the support of the education system, to ensure that their hard work is rightly and fairly recognised, and allows them to proceed to further learning or work.”
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of teaching union EIS, described the decision as “inevitable”.
On the issue of teachers awarding grades, he said making use of the evidence base which exists in schools is a sensible approach to delivering accreditation to pupils, and “is consistent with an ambition that teachers across the country share”.
Scottish Conservatives education spokesman Jamie Greene said the decision to close schools and nurseries is “understandable and inevitable”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said he wants young people to know this decision is “in their best interests”.
Scottish Greens education spokesman Ross Greer said: “Young people will still be recognised for the work they have done and the knowledge and skills they have gained.”
Universities Scotland director Alastair Sim said: “Universities will work very closely with the Scottish Qualifications Authority, schools, government and others to make this work.”
Emergency service workers and NHS staff affected by the closure of schools will be given access to childcare, the education secretary has pledged.
Mr Swinney suggested some councils may keep school buildings open and use community facilities to help with caring for children of key workers, those who may be vulnerable or rely on free school meals.
Private and third-sector childcare providers will be allowed to remain open on the condition they “support solely the children of critical workers and those families most in need of support”.
Mr Swinney said measures outlined on Wednesday for a £70 million food fund will be used to help feed recipients of free school meals.
He said: “We will not cut adrift vulnerable young people who often rely on school life for hot meals or for a safe, nurturing and supportive environment.”