By Gavin Mackintosh-
School exams in the Uk are not expected to be affected by the coronvirus crisis despite increasing pressures for schools to be shut down to keep pupils safe.
Academy representatives are preparing for critical talks with Mps as pressure mounts from all corners for the government to close schools and large gatherings to delay the spread of the deadly virus.
Concerns over the spread of the deadly Coronavirus follows revelations that some school staff and pupils have been forced to self isolate after falling ill or coming in contact with someone had contracted the coronavirus.
However, examining board Ofqual told The Eye Of Media.Com that its advise to pupils is to continue to ”prepare for exams as normal”. Ofqual said contingency plans for all scenarios has been discussed with the Department Of Education, and updates will be made when and if necessary.
The Eye Of Media.Com is among organisations that has called for a temporary shut down of schools as a safety measure to avoid the spread, especially those schools where staff members or pupils had either been in self isolation after falling ill or been in contact with someone who had contracted the virus.
However, at the ASCL annual speech last Friday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
‘The NHS has already tested over 29,000 people, including those who have travelled to areas where there are a high number of cases of Covid-19 and the vast majority of the results have been negative, so I urge you to bear this in mind.
In the overwhelming majority of situations, there is absolutely no need to close a school or send pupils or staff home. Obviously there is action to be taken in the event of a positive test but even then, your local health protection team can help stabilise the situation’
Education Secretary: Gavin Williamson Image: gov.uk
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is set to hold a Cobra meeting to discuss new tough measures to tackle the outbreak ahead of the first of daily Covid-19 press conferences.The hashtag #covid19walkout is trending on twitter, with many parents saying they will take matters into their own hands following the government’s decision last week not to close schools en-masse.
CRITICISED
The British government has been criticised for not doing enough to restrict the spread of the coronavirus by following the example of many other European countries that have closed down schools and public spaces . Concerns about the potential effects on schools and the workforce have been cited as some of the reasons for moving slowly in doing this.
. Subsequent to his speech, he released a statement saying:
”I know your pupils will be worried about what all this means for their upcoming exams. This is only to be expected, especially when so much hard work has gone into them.
“I see first-hand the enormous amount of work and effort that goes into exams by children and their teachers. I want to reassure you that we are doing everything to make sure that this year’s exams are fair for students, and that their efforts will be fairly rewarded.
“My department is in regular discussions with Ofqual, ASCL, schools and other unions, and we will continue to work together on these issues. We will ensure students, parents and teachers are kept up to date.”
Wlliamson also said that ”The Government is particularly mindful of the strain on public services like the NHS that would be caused by key workers having to stay home to look after their children as a result of school closures.
We will be constantly reassessing this position based on what the Chief Medical Officer and the Government Chief Scientific Adviser tell us about whether the evidence would require us to close schools in the best interests of children and the best interests of teachers”.
Image: ccs.northants.sch.uk