Lessons must
Schools must close if Covid infection levels rise says teachers’ union boss as Sturgeon refuses to rule out return to home learning
THE head of Scotland’s largest teachers’ union has warned we must be prepared to close schools if it would halt the spread of Covid-19.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, also demanded more than a “few days’ notice” of any decision.
It came as Nicola Sturgeon refused to rule out schools reverting to blended learning, which combines classroom and home-based schooling.
The First Minister also said further restrictions may have to be introduced.
At her daily briefing, Sturgeon said her Government will publish a new framework of coronavirus restrictions at the end of the week.
She had previously said a tiered alert system, similar to the one now in place in England, will be part of the approach.
Opposition leaders will be briefed today amid growing concern over infection levels.
No details were given of the new framework to replace the existing mix of national and local restrictions but Sturgeon suggested the nationwide ban on meetings between different households will be extended.
She said: “It is not realistic to expect we will go back to normality, for example, the household restrictions will continue to be in place, I think, for the foreseeable future.
“It may be that we need to have further restrictions over and above that.”
Attention has turned to whether school closures will be part of the tiered approach for areas with high infection levels.
Keeping schools open is the
Government’s priority but Flanagan said: “Everyone understands the importance of schools being open but as is now evident if they need to close, even temporarily, to control the virus, that is a decision we need to be prepared to make.”
He added: “We should be open as to the type of indicators which would trigger such a move so that pupils, parents and teachers can be as prepared as possible – a few days’ notice would be woefully insufficient.
“We need to be confident schools are able to switch to remote teaching, or blended learning, so we don’t see a repeat of the digital divide evident in the last lockdown, with pupils from the poorest backgrounds being disproportionately disadvantaged.
“Failing to learn lessons from that experience would be inexcusable.”
Sturgeon said it was “really important” schools are kept open “as far as we possibly can”.
However, she did not rule out more drastic alternatives: “We have always said that we can’t rule out – in parts or Scotland overall – at any st a ge reverting to blended learning for a period, but we want to avoid that if possible.”
Scottish Tory MSP Jamie G re en e said: “Another attempt to introduce part-time learning as the plan A for our young people will ring serious alarm bells for parents and teachers.”
The First Minister also announced that Scotland had recorded one death from coronavirus and 993 positive tests in 24 hours and said the death toll of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days now stood at 2610.
The latest infection statistics revealed that Covid was found in 17.1 per cent of newly-tested individuals, up from 11.2 per cent on Sunday.
Sturgeon previously warned Sunday’s testing figures should be treated with caution “due to a processing delay within the UK l ab system” but a UK Government spokesman denied there were capacity issues.
Wales is to introduce a twoweek “firebreak” lockdown from Friday evening and Sturgeon said she had spoken to Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford yesterday morning.
Sturgeon added: “It’s for the Welsh government to take the decisions they think are required and it’s right for them to do that if they think that is required.
“We are not starting right now from the same position as Wales. We have had, over the period when our schools have been closed, significant restrictions in place that have not been in place in Wales.”
She spoke before Ireland’s government announced a six-week lockdown last night.
The country has a five-tier plan to tackle Covid, and the level will be raised from three to the maximum five tomorrow and will last until December 1.
The restrictions will be similar to the spring lockdown but schools and creches will remain open and both construction and top-level sport will continue.
People will only be able to exercise within three miles of their homes and will not be able to meet other households.
All non-essential retail will close, with bars and restaurants only allowed to provide takeaways and deliveries. The public will work from home, apart from essential workers.
That is a decision we need to be prepared to make LARRY FLANAGAN ON CLOSING SCHOOLS