Colleges and universities need to ensure they have proper
plans in place to deal with the Covid threat warned the
University and College Union (UCU) today (Wednesday). UCU has
launched a new system to allow members to relay their fears about
institutions’ failings directly to the union.
The union said its plans were prompted after it was
revealed that the Department for Education does
not hold information on the number of confirmed cases of
coronavirus in schools. UCU said it would name and
shame colleges or universities that were not doing enough to keep
staff, students and the wider community safe.
The union said a lack of clear guidance from the
Westminster government had not helped matters, but institutions
could not hide behind the failings of ministers and had to
demonstrate their commitment to keeping people safe.
It warned that any college or university not preparing to
deal with a local outbreak was “in denial” about the severity of
the challenges they would most likely face. Staff will be
encouraged to complete questionnaires about their institutions’
plans if someone is taken ill on campus or how a college would
shut down in the event of an outbreak. The union said the
ministers needed to ensure a UK-wide system of coordinated
testing was put in place for colleges and universities.
The union is seeking better information about testing
systems in place and will also demand to know what support there
will be for staff and students who need to self-isolate.
Earlier this week, ministers were warned that a lack of
testing could force schools in England to
grind to a halt because students and staff would have
to stay at home following a suspected case.
Last month UCU called for teaching online to be the default
position for universities to try and stem
likely Covid surges as more than a million students
move across the country to study. The government’s
own scientific advisers SAGE have now raised concerns about the
likelihood of increased cases on campus.
Data
released by Downing Street last week showed the
infection rate among 17-21 year olds is at 50 in 100,000 and
increasing sharply. These are the main age groups found in
colleges and universities. Countries that have
infections greater than 20 in 100,000 are removed from the safe
travel list and require those who return to
quarantine.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘The evidence suggests
that colleges and universities will be hit with further Covid
outbreaks and any institution not preparing for how it deals with
one is in denial and failing staff, students and the wider
community.
‘We have already seen warnings that schools could be
brought to a halt due to a lack of testing. We want to know what
plans colleges and universities have for testing, details of
their risk assessments and how they will protect people in the
event of an outbreak.
‘We accept that guidance from the government has not been
up to scratch, but colleges and universities cannot hide behind
the failings of ministers. They must step up and do the right
things to protect their communities.
‘We will be monitoring what comes in from members and will
name and shame institutions that are not up to scratch. Our main
objective is to help avert a preventable public health crisis.
But if our members are concerned with how their college or
university is behaving we will back them if they vote to move
into dispute, which could result in ballots for industrial
action.’
