UK TO SEND MILLION STUDENTS HOME FOR HOLIDAYS
▶ Colleges union says questions about logistics remain unanswered
The UK government is planning an evacuation-style operation to send university students home safely for Christmas.
The departure of up to one million young people will take place between December 3 and December 9, after England’s four-week lockdown.
More international students than usual are likely to remain in the UK over the winter holiday regardless of the plans. But the government said the seven-day window would be welcomed by most students, who had a difficult time since studies resumed in September.
Students living in university-owned flats and halls of residence have been forbidden from leaving their rooms to socialise or even shop as campuses grappled with outbreaks.
Under the British government’s plans, a voluntary, rapid-result Covid-19 test will be offered to as many students as possible before they depart.
Anyone who tests positive, the government said, will still have time to self-isolate for two weeks before Christmas Day.
More testing will be performed in places with high infection rates and departures will be staggered.
Students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and choose a date on which to return home.
The government will also instruct universities to move lectures online by December 9 to give students the option of taking part from home.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan acknowledged that many international students would choose to remain in the UK over Christmas, given the constraints on global travel.
Students from abroad previously vented their frustration at the way universities were handling the crisis.
“We expect universities to produce a plan, a bespoke plan, for those students, including well-being support,” Ms Donelan told Sky News.
“They should make sure the festive season is as good as it possibly can be. This has been a really difficult year for us all, and especially students.”
Asked whether tuition fees should be refunded, Ms Donelan said that was the responsibility of universities.
“What we’ve said is a strong message: if they want to continue charging that, they have to ensure the quality is there, the quantity is there and it’s accessible,” she said.
Those seeking refunds should complain to their universities first, she said.
Ms Donelan said the government’s focus was on the departures.
She declined to describe detailed plans for the students’ return in January, other than to say the government would prioritise testing.
Ms Donelan insisted the UK’s public transport network had the capacity to cope with the week-long travel window.
But the Universities and College Union general secretary, Jo Grady, said many questions were unanswered.
“It’s welcome but there are so many logistical challenges and questions now,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“What about the return of students? We cannot be asked to repeat this in January … we need learning to go online immediately.”
Universities have been told to work with transport providers and health agencies to co-ordinate the departures.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing to spend up to £ 40 billion ($ 52.9bn), more than its entire public order and safety budget, for its Operation Moonshot testing programme.
Public Health England has been given a £22bn boost to add capacity to laboratory testing, The Times reported.
Britain’s National Health Service has also issued another tender of £20bn for on-thespot testing.