Extracts from Scottish Parliament debate on Safe Schools - Nov 18
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Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green):..I am not here to tell the
education secretary why that is the case, but I tell him that it is
happening. I urge the Government to urgently review whether track
and trace is working in schools, and to do so by speaking directly
to the overworked teachers who have to take on the role of public
health officials, on top of delivering in-person and remote
learning... Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con):...The issue of
keeping schools open is one of the most...Request free trial
Ross Greer (West
Scotland) (Green):..I am not here to tell the education secretary
why that is the case, but I tell him that it is happening. I urge
the Government to urgently review whether track and trace is
working in schools, and to do so by speaking directly to the
overworked teachers who have to take on the role of public health
officials, on top of delivering in-person and remote learning...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con):...The issue of keeping schools open is one of the most challenging conundrums that all Governments face. It is also one of the most divisive. On one side are those who advocate complete closure and blanket online learning, and on the other are those who demand that schools stay open at all costs... ...I move amendment S5M-23385.2, to insert at end: “; notes that participation rates in online learning during the pandemic have been variable across the country, with some pupils and teachers left without access to adequate digital infrastructure or devices to fully facilitate online learning; further notes that, in the absence of nationally co-ordinated online learning materials to support the curriculum, many young people in Scotland missed out on valuable education despite the best efforts and endeavours of their parents and teachers, and calls on the Scottish Government and its agencies to ensure that no child is left behind if required to study from home.” Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab):..I have an interest as a Lanarkshire resident: we are going to level 4 on Friday. Eleven local authorities in total are, so I understand why the EIS is calling for blended or remote learning in those areas...Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con):..We know all too well that remote learning did not work effectively, and I have seen little evidence to suggest that it will improve if it is attempted for a second time. When I questioned ministers on making information technology equipment available to pupils who need it, that was repeatedly kicked down the line until schools had returned. Even now, it remains far from clear how that equipment has been allocated and how many pupils would be able to access a blended or remote learning approach. Education Scotland, which could have co-ordinated and driven remote learning, took a back seat... Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):...That also raises the issue of the very variable rates of online activity across our schools. Some are definitely disadvantaged by a lack of adequate digital infrastructure. That can, obviously, impact much more heavily on pupils in our poorer areas, where schools have fewer resources than some of their counterparts and those in the independent sector. In those schools, resources are much less of a problem and schools have therefore supported more concentrated online learning, especially for those with additional support needs—pupils that we must never forget. Ross Greer:...Patrick Harvie talked specifically about Glasgow and mentioned comments from council staff that teachers cannot possibly teach from home. I am not saying that there is a simple solution but, given that substantial numbers of young people in areas such as Glasgow that are in level 4 have to learn remotely because they are shielding, could shielding staff not be given the responsibility of working with them on a remote learning basis? Would it not make sense to at least try to explore that option, which I believe a number of councils have not explored? The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 64, Against 1, Abstentions 56. Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament believes that education is best delivered in
the classroom, but that making schools safe for pupils, teachers
and staff must be a top priority of government during the
pandemic; notes that, as of 10 November 2020, 29,486 pupils and
2,615 staff were absent from Scottish schools for
COVID-19-related reasons, with absence rates affecting areas with
higher levels of deprivation more; expresses concern regarding
reports that some school staff have been instructed to turn off
the Protect Scotland app when in school and may have felt under
pressure to continue to attend schools even when notified by the
app of a potential exposure risk; considers it unacceptable that
some clinically vulnerable teachers have felt pressured to return
to in-person teaching against specific advice from their GPs to
the contrary and in the absence of an overall national strategy
on how to deal with school staff with chronic or underlying
health conditions; calls on the Scottish Government to work with
local authorities to ensure that any vulnerable school staff
member who is medically unable to attend school in person without
being placed at unacceptable risk is better supported to either
work from home or in a safer alternative setting, or, if this is
not possible, to potentially be placed on leave without loss of
income; expresses disappointment in government efforts to
adequately prepare resource levels for COVID-19-related staff
absences; calls on the Scottish Government to deliver funding for
the purpose of recruiting at least an additional 2,000 full-time
teachers to ensure that all schools can maintain safe staffing
levels while managing absences due to COVID-19, and further calls
on the Scottish Government to make regular voluntary COVID-19
testing widely available for asymptomatic staff and senior pupils
across all of Scotland's schools; notes that participation rates
in online learning during the pandemic have been
variable across the country, with some pupils and teachers left
without access to adequate digital infrastructure or devices to
fully facilitate online learning; further notes
that, in the absence of nationally co-ordinated online
learning materials to support the curriculum, many young
people in Scotland missed out on valuable education despite the
best efforts and endeavours of their parents and teachers, and
calls on the Scottish Government and its agencies to ensure that
no child is left behind if required to study from home, as well
as investigating the possibility of resourcing improvements to
ventilation in the school estate and producing a report based on
Test and Protect that examines infection patterns within school
settings. |