Teachers call for free covid tests to continue

Teachers have called for free covid testing in schools to continue after the Easter holidays as 142 staff were off sick last week in West Lothian.

Their calls, which are backed by the council, come as the county faces surging covid-related absence rates in schools, with almost four per cent of pupils and 142 teachers off sick.

The number of teachers off has doubled since the start of the month.

The Scottish Government plans to scrap free covid tests in schools by the start of the summer term on April 18 as it moves to a test and protect strategy.

However, those with covid are still expected to self-isolate.

Local EIS secretary Heather Hughes told the education executive that schools were seeing record high numbers of absences within teaching staff and young people in recent weeks.

She said:“I am being contacted on a daily basis with concerns about the numbers of pupils and teachers off.”

She told the committee that the tests would cost £20.

Mrs Hughes added:“There will be young people and families who cannot afford to pay for tests.

Will the education executive join the EIS in writing to the cabinet secretary to demand that testing should remain free for all young people and staff in schools going forward from 18 April?”

Free tests will no longer be distributed by schools as the Test and Protect scheme is adapted to support the effective management of Covid-19 as it becomes endemic.