Teachers hit out at virus return plans

A teaching union boss has hit out at Government plans to get pupils back to school after the Christmas break.

Regional National Education Union secretary Mike McDonald says members are “once again” stunned by proposals to stagger the return of older secondary students and simultaneously introduce mass testing in schools in January – despite the twoweek break.

McDonald said: “The Government is expecting secondary school leaders to contact, train and deploy an army of volunteers to administer testing to the whole of the region's secondary school population.

"Armed with a 30-minute training video they are being asked to administer tests to adolescents – who may have their own views about what is quite an invasive procedure.

"Parents will also be required to give their consent and have to be contacted. That, in itself, a huge task."

He added :“All this is expected despite the two week break that these educators badly need following their sterling efforts to keep schools open in the most challenging circumstances. "It is highly likely that many pupils will return from their Christmas holiday with higher levels of Covid-19 infection. Those who test positive will be required to isolate, which involves a huge amount of school staff taking the time to contact parents and to trace close contacts.

"Yet again government ministers fail to under - stand the fundamental issues involved, and the effort, training, and time it takes to operate Covid security procedures in schools.

"It is simply, once again, another Government reaction not fit for purpose."