By Gabriel Princewill-
Education Secretary. Gavin Williamson yesterday justified the British government’s decision to put children first by conducting a proportionate risk assessment that weighs up the benefits against the costs of keeping schools open in January.
Education unions and scientists had strongly opposed the idea of keeping schools open to stem of the spread of the virus, as they called for schools to remain closed throughout January. That collective view was more fear driven, and devoid of the conceivable mechanisms that could be put in place to responsibly manage the risks detrimental to society of opening schools.
Williamson’s judgement in keeping schools open, eclipses any counterarguments. It is unarguably the smarter way forward.
Expressing his earnest determination to counteract any possibility of Covid -19 damaging the life chances of an entire year of children and students, Williamson vowed to put children first, not the expressed apprehension of teaching unions.
Williamson, who has been subjected to much criticism about the exam fiasco of the summer of 202o said: ”we continue to protect education by putting children first. Above all our response is proportionate to the risk at hand and makes every use of the contingency framework that we put in place earlier this year.
Making reference to the latest study from Public Health England, Mr. Williamson stated that Covid- 19 infections among children are triggered by changes in the community rate.
‘The study, he said. ”goes further to state that the wider impact of school closures on children’s development would be significant. I am quite clear that we must continue to do all we can to keep children in school.”
Efficient Measures
The Education Secretary affirmed efficient measures taken for the new term to help with breaking chains of transmission, which he said would assist with keeping all children and all British education settings as safe as possible.
The majority of primary schools will open on Monday 4th January, he confirmed.
Speaking of an existing contingency framework that would allow critical workers to attend school face to face, he emphasised the plans as a last resort.
Ongoing Testing
The Department Of Education’s plans include ongoing testing for primary school staff will later in January will work concurrently with an ambitious testing programme that will help to break chains of transmission and reducing the need for self-isolation where students and staff test negative for the virus..
Williamson pointed to a study from Public Health England which says that the wider impact of school closures on children’s development would be significant. I am quite clear that we must continue to do all we can to keep children in school.
Ongoing testing for primary school staff will follow later in January, and we will be working to establish an ambitious testing programme helping to break chains of transmission and reducing the need for self-isolation where students and staff test negative for the virus.