IN, WEEK OUT’ PLEA SNUBBED WILL go back
‘NOT FAIR TO KEEP KIDS OFF’
‘COME BACK TO CLASS’: PM
BORIS Johnson took aim at teaching union bosses as he insisted reopening schools in September was the “right thing for everybody”.
The bow and arrow-wielding PM shot down calls for pupils to be taught on a “week on, week off” basis in coronavirus hotspots.
Teachers, scientists, MPS and children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield called for testing to be improved before pupils in England return next month.
But defiant Boris said: “It’s not right that kids should spend more time out of school.
Justice
“It’s much, much better for their health and mental wellbeing, obviously their educational prospects, if everybody comes back to school full-time in September.”
Speaking during a visit to two schools in east London, the PM added: “It’s our moral duty as a country to make sure that happens.
“We think that education is the priority for the country and that is simple social justice.”
The Association of School and College Leaders has proposed a rota system as a reserve plan in case there is a spike in Covid-19 cases.
ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said: “We would like to see more thought given to blended learning as a back-up plan.”
But Mr Johnson’s spokesman last night insisted: “We have been clear that all children in all year groups are returning to school full-time in September.”
In the latest figures, 21 people died after testing positive for Covid-19 in 24 hours, bringing the UK total to 46,526.
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