Teaching union calls for delay on return of schools due to Omicron

The reopening of Scottish schools after the Christmas holidays should be delayed because of the Omicron variant, a teaching union has said.

Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, said rising cases are leading to staffing issues and the problem is expected to grow worse in the new year. Meanwhile, the head of the EIS teaching union said the Scottish Government should be prepared to return schools to remote learning if necessary.

However, the government has said it is not considering national school closures.

Both union leaders urged care over the spread of coronavirus in schools.

Mr Searson told Scotland on Sunday: “If the numbers keep going up, and it looks like that is going to be the case for some time to come, then we are not going to be in a fit state to reopen schools as normal in January.

“We’re already hearing of schools that are not fully staffed and parents are keeping their kids off to ensure they don’t catch Covid in the run-up to Christmas.”

Delaying the start of the new term would give teachers more time to prepare for mitigation measures, he added.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS union, also told the newspaper further measures to curb coronavirus were needed when schools returned.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “As the first minister has made clear, protecting the education of children and young people remains a top priority.

“National school closures would only be an absolute last resort.

“Covid-19 protections will be reviewed on a daily basis.”

Union leaders Seamus Searson and Larry Flanagan.