Reopening schools will get the great engine of our economy moving

AS THE Prime Minister rightly proclaims today in The Mail on Sunday, education is crucial to our children’s welfare, health and future. Because of that, it is crucial to all of us, for without it our civilisation will be damaged and limited.

And yet for almost five months, our schools have been almost deserted. The children of those who are not classified as ‘key workers’ have been deprived not only of classes, but of interaction with their own age group, of after-school activities, sports and of a valuable routine to their days and weeks.

Good work habits and many other good things are learned in school, and lost when schools do not function. Any traveller to the poorer parts of the world, where schools are not universally available, will be profoundly moved by the efforts which parents will make to secure school places for their young.

In this country, to our national shame, educational inequality is still one of the worst problems we face. In the absence of schools, those who can afford private education have been able to obtain serious online schooling. The record of state schools, attended by the great majority, is nothing like as good. This is a deeply depressing fact and another reason for us to feel a strong sense of urgency.

For the first time since our Victorian forebears decided that school was essential to educate and civilise the young, it has virtually ceased. This is a grave crisis. Its implications – including exposure to domestic abuse, drugs and general demoralisation – are enormous.

It absolutely must be resolved in time for the start of term.

No doubt there are some risks to teachers and pupils from the virus, though the research suggests that the staff room is a more risky place than the classroom. But those risks are small. There is virtually no evidence of children passing on Covid-19, and a tiny few instances of children falling seriously ill with it. But any well-lived life contains risk of some sort. The trick is to work out which risks are worth taking, to reduce them where possible, and then to get on with life. As Boris Johnson says, ‘now that we know enough to reopen schools to all pupils safely, we have a moral duty to do so’.

We have been highly critical of the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, for his initial failure to get this job done.

We would be only too happy to heap praise on him if, on a second attempt, he gets it right.

He will have the Prime Minister at his shoulder, in all he does. In dealing with the sectional and selfish opposition of ill-led and complacent teachers’ unions, he can – and must – call on the full authority of a majority-elected government, and the full support of the parents of this country (and many teachers too).

He can therefore insist that the schools open fully, not for half a day, that they are not encumbered by excessive, pettifogging precautions such as face masks – disturbing and destructive of good communication between teacher and student.

The reopening of schools is the priming of the pumps that will get the great engine of our economy and society moving again. As Mr Johnson says, ‘nothing is more important for the future of our country’.

This is his test, the moment when he shows his mettle and his determination. He must and can succeed. We are all behind you, Boris.