West Dunbartonshire’s youngest school pupils and nursery children were back in class this week amid concerns over Covid infection rates in the local area.
Both Jim Halfpenny of West Dunbartonshire EIS and Councillor David McBride say a nationwide approach may not be appropriate as the number of positive tests has left the region as the fifth worst hit in Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed last week that schools would begin to reopen next week as part of a phased return.
Since Christmas, only children of frontline workers and those classed as vulnerable have been able to attend in person with others learning from home.
But as from yesterday, primaries one to three will be back in class and nurseries will reopen for all young children.
Senior pupils were back at secondary school on a limited basis to allow practical work to be undertaken.
Dumbarton councillor David McBride said he was pleased to see children return to school and hoped that more could return soon but said he still had reservations.
He explained: “I still do have concerns regarding the level of infection rates in West Dunbartonshire. A Scotland wide-decision may not be appropriate for every community.
“We currently have the fifth highest infection rates in the country, therefore I believe it would be prudent were we to introduce some blended learning that will allow vital face-to-face teaching to smaller classes.
“This should be introduced until there is a reduction of Covid positive tests.”
Jim Halfpenny, joint secretary of the EIS in West Dunbartonshire, the union which represents teachers in the area, is concerned.
He said: “Worryingly, a recent increase has taken place during a lockdown.
“Teachers and support staff are clearly worried for their safety with the proposed opening of schools this week.
“A one-size-fits-all approach by the Scottish Government not only endangers areas with rising infection levels but threatens to spread to other areas.”
He is appealing for the power to be passed to local authorities to decide on the best approach to schooling.
This follows a backing across all parties in December for flexibility to be given to councils regarding blended and remote learning where required, subject to prevalence of the virus.
He said: “This freedom to respond to local circumstances is crucial in controlling this pandemic.”
Mr Halfpenny also cited information presented to the Scottish Government’s own Covid education recovery group which said that of 2,612 children and young people tested in Scotland in the week beginning February 7, 545 were found to have the virus and most were asymptomatic.
This covered children aged between two and 17 with the number of positive results rising with the age of the child.
He added: “Even the restricted opening of schools is clearly an experiment by the Scottish Government which our members feel is an experiment too far.”
Council leader Jonathan McColl added his thoughts saying: “The Scottish Government is acting cautiously and the return to school is very limited.
“While I am still in favour of local flexibility regarding school openings/closures, on balance I am supportive of the careful return to school given the potential harm caused by keeping pupils at home. I understand this slow return will be frustrating for parents, the safety of staff and pupils is paramount in the Scottish Government’s decisions.
“The council will continue to follow national guidance to keep our communities as safe as possible.”
Education secretary John Swinney said at the weekend that schools were safe to reopen on this limited, phased basis telling BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show: “We’ve got to look at all the evidence that supports such decisions but we’ve also got to take the measures to ensure absolute safety within the school and early learning childcare environment and that’s exactly what our guidance is designed to do.”
The First Minister said last week that we had to “trade off” certain aspects of normal, daily life to allow others to happen, saying: “Children’s education and wellbeing is such an overriding factor.”
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