Fears over social distancing as staff infection rates rise
PHYSICAL distancing is virtually absent from schools as concern grows over the rising number of staff infected with Covid, a union has claimed.
The NASUWT warned of ‘clear evidence that poor employer practice may be to blame as Glasgow schools fail to follow essential safety measures’.
It comes after a leaked email last week from the city’s executive director of education, Maureen McKenna, in which she told staff: ‘Colleagues, this week has seen an
‘Failure by employers to ensure safety’
extraordinary number of cases where teachers have tested positive for Covid-19.’
The NASUWT said no teachers in Glasgow who responded to the survey could say pupils were always following the rules on social distancing.
Only 6 per cent of teachers said managers in schools are reinforcing messages on the need for pupils to keep apart.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: ‘This survey highlights the failure by employers in Glasgow to put in place adequate procedures to ensure Covid-safety in their schools.’
Working with younger pupils and pupils with support needs, undertaking practical classes, class sizes and space constraints in schools were cited as the main barriers to keep maintaining physical distancing.
Nearly 69 per cent said their levels of anxiety around work are high or very high, rising to 80 per cent of extremely vulnerable teachers. And 62 per cent said they feel unsafe or very unsafe in their workplace.
Last night, Jane Peckham, NASUWT’s national official for Scotland, said: ‘This rise in coronavirus cases is not the fault of teachers and other staff, who have been put in an untenable position with regard to the full reopening of schools.’
Responding to the survey of 110 teachers, a Glasgow City Council spokesman said: ‘We would urge anyone who’s got concerns to raise them with their senior management to get them resolved.’
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesman said: ‘There have been instances where lack of social distancing has been identified as a factor and we would encourage everyone to observe advice on social distancing very carefully.’