ONE of Nicola Sturgeon’s top health advisers has said that schools should "re-open as normally as possible" when they return on August 11.
The First Minister has now suggested that schools may be able to re-open with “nearer normality” in August, but it is dependent on successful efforts to suppress the Covid-10 outbreak continuing.
Opposition parties and parents have criticised the Scottish Government’s plans for schools to return in a blended learning model – with young people spending up to half of their time physically in school and the rest at home with remote teaching.
Now public health expert Devi Sridhar tweeted that her "personal view" is that if cases of coronavirus are low enough, schools should attempt to re-open normally – putting more pressure on Ms Sturgeon for a re-think over the blended learning approach.
READ MORE: MSPs warn teachers could face mountain of appeals over scrapped exams week before schools return
The Edinburgh University professor, who is part of the Scottish Government's Covid-19 expert scientific advisory group, said: "If Covid-19 numbers can be brought low enough in Scotland by 11 August (under 20 confirmed cases) & with appropriate 'test and protect' policies, my personal view is that schools should re-open as normally as possible (kids back full-time & able to play/interact together)."
If COVID-19 numbers can be brought low enough in Scotland by 11 August (under 20 confirmed cases) & with appropriate 'test and protect' policies, my personal view is that schools should re-open as normally as possible (kids back full-time & able to play/interact together).
— Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) June 16, 2020
The First Minister has previously insisted ministers would be guided by the scientific evidence and would "not compromise on safety".
Ms Sturgeon responded by tweeting: "Right now (like other UK nations), we must plan for a school model based on physical distancing.
READ MORE: Nurseries to keep children in 'cohorts' of eight amid social distancing re-opening plans
"But as @devisridhar says, *if* we can suppress virus sufficiently & have other measures in place, nearer normality may be possible. It's why we must stick with plan to suppress."
The First Minister continued: "We'll be guided by evidence & won't compromise safety (we still don't know everything about this virus). And we'll work with parents, young people & teachers to build confidence. All countries grappling with these tough issues - @scotgov determined to do right for children."
1/ Right now (like other UK nations), we must plan for a school model based on physical distancing. But as @devisridhar says, *if* we can suppress virus sufficiently & have other measures in place, nearer normality may be possible. It’s why we must stick with plan to suppress. https://t.co/jhyUVbthbv
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 17, 2020
Professor Sridhar later clarified her remarks, stressing that the First Minister and her are "completely aligned", adding that she supports the "cautious approach to easing lockdown and re-opening schools".
She added: "She has kids (& teachers, parents) best interest in mind so better to go slowly, track virus closely & make decisions in a reasoned & data-driven way."
On Sunday, Education Secretary John Swinney had warned it was "unlikely" that education would return to normal in the next academic year - prompting dismay from parents.
He said that was because "we'll have to maintain the social distancing approaches for some considerable time to come".
Plans being drawn up by councils could see some youngsters spend as little as one day a week in class, it has been reported.
READ MORE: John Swinney: Businesses must help schools re-open as next year's exams could face axe
However, on Monday, Ms Sturgeon dismissed his suggestion that the blended learning system - where youngsters spend part of the week in class but continue learning at home - could last for the whole of the 2020-21 school year.
"It is absolutely not the case that we are planning for blended learning, with children learning at home for part of the school week, to last a year, or anything like it," she insisted.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel