New year return of students could be phased

The return of students to university after spending Christmas at home could be staggered, according to the education secretary.

The beginning of the academic year s aw thousands of students enter halls of residence before hundreds of them were forced to isolate due to a spike in Covid-19 cases.

John Swinney said the Sco tt ish Government is “learning lessons” from the return of students which will impact on measures in place after the Christmas break.

The education secretary also said it was a “priority” that students are able to go home for Christmas and he was working with other UK nations to ensure that does not result in a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Addressing the return of students, he told the BBC’s Politics Scotland programme a system of mass testing, bolstered by a staggered return of students ensuring the system does not become overwhelmed, was being discussed as an option.

Mr Swinney added: “We’re working with institutions because they have to be partners with us in how the learning is undertaken over that period.”

A new five- tiered system of restrictions was unveiled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Friday, which would see a shif ting package of measures put on different local authority areas depending on the prevalence of the virus.

However, schools are to remain open under the new framework, which will be debated by MSPs this week.

Mr Swinney said the decision could be made to close a particular school for public health reasons, but that there were “many steps” which could be taken before schools will be shuttered, as they were in March.