School changes risk adding to confusion

MOST schools reopened only about ten days ago after five months of closure.

It was a moment eagerly awaited by families across Scotland – and a key milestone on the difficult journey out of lockdown.

And it almost didn’t happen, until a parental backlash forced John Swinney into a U-turn over his plans for ‘blended learning’. Now comes news of another proposed change of direction: the official line for months was that secondary pupils didn’t need to wear face coverings in school.

Ministers are now poised to amend this advice so that children and teachers will cover their faces between classes, for example in corridors.

It’s a move that will fuel confusion among parents and pupils only just beginning to adapt to full-time schooling in the midst of a pandemic.

Thankfully, for now, face coverings won’t be mandatory in the classroom, where there’s no doubt they would be a barrier to learning.

After so many U-turns, it’s no wonder that parent campaigners are voicing their concern over a measure that until now had been deemed scientifically unnecessary.

Enforceability is perhaps the most obvious concern: what will happen to pupils who won’t wear them?

And many pupils – for example those with asthma – will have legitimate reasons not to put them on.

Social distancing ‘wherever possible’ is stipulated for secondaries, but it’s hard – if not impossible – to police.

At a time of uncertainty, this is yet another addition to the rulebook just as schools were beginning to return to a form of normality.

It’s important that schools remain welcoming, and conducive to study – but pupils and teachers must also be safe.

To a large extent, schools have managed so far to keep coronavirus at bay, excepting local flare-ups which have been well managed.

Parents will be divided on the merits of masks, though most of us are slowly growing used to wearing them while shopping or on public transport.

But the majority are bound to agree that the contingency plan of blended learning – with pupils attending school for as little as one day a week – must be avoided.

If face coverings help to reduce the chance of further disruption to our education system, then they should be used – but it’s a policy that must be introduced with care and caution.

Pupils have had to cope with the trauma of the exams debacle and a long spell away from their textbooks and friends.

Let’s hope this is the last major change they have to confront as they finally get back to learning.