BACK TO SCHOOL PLANS IN DOUBT

New fears over return to classes as fight to suppress virus ‘stalls’

SCOTLAND’S bid to get children back to school has been thrown into doubt amid fears progress suppressing the virus has ‘stalled’.

Primary one, two and three pupils are due to return to the classroom on February 22, along with some senior secondary students.

But Health Secretary Jeane Freeman insisted yesterday that a final decision has yet to be made – depending on the prevalence of Covid-19 across the country.

She warned that the Scottish Government would be cautious amid worries that new variants of the virus can spread easily amongst youngsters – prompting fears that the return to school could be delayed.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Safety is a priority but we also need hope that there is an actual road map to get pupils back into classrooms where they learn best.

‘Parents and teachers need clarity, not more confusion. Drip-feeding information is not helpful. The SNP are sowing the seeds of uncertainty and it is not helping anyone.

‘We need clear, thought-out policy, not guesswork delivered on the television.’

Nicola Sturgeon announced earlier this

month that children in primary one, two and three would be the first to return to schools from Monday, February 22, along with nurseries.

Senior high school pupils are also to be allowed back ‘on a very limited basis’ to complete practical work which counts towards their final grades.

More than 400,000 youngsters have been forced to stay at home since the beginning of their Christmas break last year.

At the time, the First Minister said that it was likely physical distancing and face coverings may be ‘necessary for a while yet’.

She warned that the reopening of schools would be based on the continued suppression of coronavirus in Scotland.

At the Scottish Government’s Covid briefing yesterday, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said progress on reducing the spread of the virus, which has improved since lockdown, has ‘stalled’.

He said: ‘The trajectory is still a really difficult question. It is slow – it is still decelerating – but barely.

‘We have stalled, not completely, but the curve is flatter than we would have hoped and that is all down to the new variant.

‘Over this weekend I and my colleagues – with the modellers, with the statisticians, with the public health leaders – will give advice to the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet and they will decide on Monday whether schools should open, even in this limited way.’

Miss Freeman said: ‘While the news that we are reporting is better news than we have been reporting about case numbers and numbers in ICU, those are still high case numbers and people are dying in numbers that are of huge regret to all of us – so our approach must be a cautious one. It must be cautious and we must take time to be sure about the progress we’re making.

‘The Cabinet will meet at the start of the week and review all of that information, take advice from colleagues like Jason and the chief medical officer [Dr Gregor Smith] and make a final decision next week on whether that planned limited reopening of education can still go ahead.’

Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘Parents have heard the First Minister all week saying how well things are going and will be dismayed to hear today’s comments. They really need some more certainty, not hints and insinuation.’

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS teachers’ union, said: ‘When announcing the intention for some pupils to return to school on February 22, the Scottish Government made clear this was contingent on continued progress in suppressing the virus. The EIS continues to believe that schools should only reopen when it is safe to do so, and the onus is on the Government to evidence that is the case.

‘Reopening primary one to three schools on a blended-learning approach, with physical distance in place, would be a more precautionary approach.’

Miss Sturgeon has pledged to put children first in her easing of lockdown restrictions, ahead of opening up the economy.

Earlier this week, teachers were given hope that they could be prioritised for jabs when the vaccination scheme is extended to the over-50s, as experts consider priority for certain professions.

Those working on the front line – including supermarket staff – could also be moved to the top of the list. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is considering how the rollout should proceed once the current list of priorities is completed.