The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country’s
largest teaching union, has responded to today’s announcement
that 11 local authorities are moving to Level 4 of the Covid
Framework by calling for schools in these areas to be allowed to
implement blended or remote learning contingency measures.
The announcement of the Level 4 restrictions, made by the First
Minister in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, is based on
concern over the level of Covid spread across these local
authority areas – yet, despite this, schools are currently
expected to remain open on a full-time basis, with up to 33
pupils and at least one adult in each classroom.
Figures
published on a regular basis by the Scottish Government have
highlighted week-on-week increases in both the number of pupils
and teachers infected with Covid-19 and, also, the number of
pupils and teachers absent from school due to being required to
self-isolate.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “The Move
to Level 4 restrictions is designed to get the spread of Covid
under control in these areas. It will also, inevitably, increase
the anxiety felt by many teachers over the level risk to their
health, their pupils’ health and the health of their families and
the wider community. The EIS is clear that, in areas that are now
at level 4, the current policy of keeping schools operating as
normal on a full-time basis is at odds with delivering effective
virus suppression. It is not only about the safety of schools
themselves, it’s about the role of schools in terms of local
community transmission. It’s difficult to imagine somewhere with
more social mixing than schools and pupils and staff then go back
into their communities and their homes and families.”
Mr Flanagan added, “We have been repeatedly told at CERG (Covid
Education Recovery Group) that blended and remote learning remain
active contingencies, but the First Minister appears to be ruling
them out entirely, even at Level 4. Teachers understand the
importance of schools to the lives of young people and would wish
to see schools open but not at any cost – safety and Covid
security need to be guiding concerns also.”
The EIS is currently surveying its members
on a range of issues related to school Covid safety measures.
