Lack of transparency over return to school slammed

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The very future of Scotland’s children is at risk if they do not get back to school in August.

COUNCILLOR KATHLEEN LESLIE

Fife Council has been criticised for a lack of transparency around pupils’ return to school amid fears for a “lost generation of learning”.

Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie said the local authority’s education committee had not met since February and the plan for reopening schools had been set by officers.

She said: “Councillors are the voices of the people and it is absolutely imperative they are able to take the concerns of parents to committee where they can be robustly debated and scrutinised.

“Anything less is failing.”

She urged the council to look at using other buildings if social distancing rules were not relaxed and to ask former teachers to come back to work.

“The very future of Scotland’s children is at risk if they do not get back to school in August,” she said.

Carrie Lindsay, the council’s executive director of education and children’s services, said: “All committee meetings were cancelled with effect from March 23 and decisions since have been made under delegated powers with involvement of conveners, vice-conveners and a crossparty member stakeholder group.

“Proposals for the re-opening of schools have been discussed with this group and it’s also planned to bring a report to the next policy and co-ordination committee in July.

“We are working to make sure there is involvement from elected members, parents and staff at every stage possible.

“It’s important to stress that these proposals may adapt to reflect any changes in public health advice and the implementation of the Scottish Government route map, as we progress over the weeks to August 11.”

Pictures: Paul Reid/Steve Brown. Top: The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, moderator of the Church of Scotland, has said the Kirk stands ready to help children get back to school; above: Dundee High School rector Lise Hudson.