Zahawi: School closures are the last option

NADHIM Zahawi has vowed that closing schools because of the Omicron variant would be a ‘last possible option’.

The Education Secretary is facing calls for tougher measures from teaching unions.

At the weekend, the Department for Education said secondary pupils should wear masks in communal areas. Yesterday, it added that the same would apply to university students – and said vice chancellors ‘may also want to consider’ face coverings in lectures.

Teaching unions want masks in classrooms and the option of sending ‘bubbles’ of children home if one tests positive for Covid.

But Mr Zahawi told ITV’s This Morning: ‘The best place for children to be is in a classroom, learning.’ He said he disagreed with the idea of a return of bubbles because ‘that reduces attendance significantly’. On school Christmas concerts, he said: ‘My very strong advice is if you (are) organising Nativities, carry on.’