(Ipswich) (Con):...Going forward, we must keep schools
open. Like many of my colleagues, I have received a lot of emails
recently from the National Education Union about
its desire for schools to be closed now, but I disagree. While I
sympathise with parents and teachers who have concerns about
safety, and the Government need to heed and address those, I think
it is absolutely critical that, come what may, our schools are kept
open...
(Ilford
North) (Lab):...As a general point, as was set out earlier in the
debate, fines are a blunt instrument for compelling people to turn
up to schools. The general secretary of the Association of School
and College Leaders, Geoff Barton, said:
“We don’t think that it is the right approach to fine parents for
the non-attendance of children as soon as schools fully reopen in
September, and the Government should not expect schools to take
this action.”
We have had similar representations from the National
Education Union and the National Association of Head
Teachers. As much as the Government say, “Let’s have a
conversation first. This is about discretion,” we have seen too
many cases in which that does not apply, and schools do not
necessarily believe that they have the flexibility that the
Government say they do...
(Stoke-on-Trent North) (Con):...I ask the leaders of the
National Education Union—although I ranted and
shouted at them in the Select Committee sitting, I will not do so
now—to end their call for schools to close, because that is a
divisive campaign. It will not bring schools and families
together; nor will it get us politicians, who are making
incredibly challenging and difficult decisions, closer to the
public. I ask the union leaders to cease that campaign, and to
work with the Government and the hon. Member for Ilford North to
find ways for schools to get the most support...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
Extract from Commons
debate on Covid-19
(City of Durham) (Lab):...Secondly, given the
concerns of education unions, it would be wrong if I did not
touch on the issue of schools. Today, a constituent contacted me
to say that her child is 16 and lives with heart failure. If she
were an adult, she would be able to work from home, as someone
who is extremely vulnerable. Instead, she must go to school,
where coronavirus infections are common. Countless pupils and
educational staff will be in similar positions. Every teacher,
child and parent wants schools to remain open if possible, yet
the National Education Union and
the University and College Union tell us that schools and
colleges are not fully safe right now. The Government must
urgently make the necessary changes to fix that. Schools need to
stay open, but only if they are safe. No one should have to go
into a workplace that is not safe...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
