The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Teachers concerned at failure to cut class sizes
● Union calls for more staff to allow effective social distancing
Teachers are “nervous, stressed and worried” after a new survey revealed many Aberdeen schools have not reduced class sizes to help with social distancing.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union, which released a survey on the reopening of schools, found 83% of its members in the city’s primary and secondary schools said there are no reductions in class sizes in place to enable effective physical distancing.
Around 33% also reported that physical distancing between staff and pupils was not in place across 23 schools in the city.
Ron Constable, EIS joint local association secretary in Aberdeen, said a number of teachers were fearful about the transfer of the virus within classrooms.
He also called for more funding to enable schools to increase teacher numbers and reduce class sizes.
“What we are primarily worried about is our members and the children in our care”, Mr Constable said.
“What the Scottish Government has said is that education is a priority, and we agree with that, but everybody has to be safe.
“We’re asking them to employ more teachers and reduce class sizes to make it as safe as possible for pupils and staff – but we need to prevent schools from closing down.
“Some classes have 30 to 33 pupils. Getting it down to 15 would make a tremendous difference.
“But the money has to come from the Scottish Government.”
The most recent Scottish Government guidance states primary and secondary schools should consider altering class sizes and composition to create more space “where staffing within the school allows it”.
It also suggests pupils be kept in “consistent groups” to reduce the likelihood of direct transmission.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council claimed schools would need “twice as many staff ” to socially distance pupils from each another. She added: “All measures have been taken to socially distance staff from one another and where possible staff from learners.
“Where this cannot be maintained, appropriate personal protective equipment has been provided to all schools and face coverings have been encouraged and the wearing of these supported.
“Scottish Government guidance suggests social distancing between pupils where possible and, in many of our settings, to maintain this in class areas would be unmanageable with current staffing.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have provided £80 million to local authorities, enough to recruit around 1,400 additional teachers and 200 support staff, in order to bring much needed resilience to the education system and to compensate for any loss of learning suffered by children and young people during lockdown.”