By Gavin Mackintosh-
Government ministers have been secretly indecisive as to whether to reopen schools amid the pandemic that has led to school closures. Concerned NEU’s members wrote to the prime minister after citing increasing media speculation suggesting plans to reopen schools in June. It follows unnamed government sources who expressed plans for re-opening schools before the summer , but with no conclusive decision made on the matter.
Media publications written in the national press indicating plans to re-open schools but with nothing conclusive has irked education unions who have been pushing for clarity on the matter, despite official lines in the public domain stating closure of schools until further notice. Citing unnamed sources has always been a weakness in the credibility of various media outlets, leaving open to question whether these sources are real or not. The reality is that not all sources are happy to go on record with regards serious or controversial issues.
The Eye Of Media.Com equally confirmed from reliable sources in the government department that the matter has been ”ongoing and dynamic”, but by no means are there any plans on the table to reopen schools, as things stand.
All Uk schools were closed on the 23rd of March after an initial reluctance for the government to do so because of the impact it could have on the workforce. The closure on schools has also led to a cancellation of all G.C.S.E and A level exams, with all teaching moved online. Ofqual has concluded that all exams grades will be calculated based on mock exams and past class performances.
NEU bosses appeared to be getting their hopes high that schools may re-open , and have written a letter to prime minister, Boris Johnson, asking the government to publish its modelling of the increased cases and mortalities, and reveal whether perceived plans to re-open schools would include social distancing being implemented in schools, testing of children and staff and the increased availability of PPE. The National Association Of Head Teachers(NAHT) had been lobbying for schools to reopen before the summer holiday,but did not state why.
Many believe they were sympathetic to the emotional well being of pupils, especially final year primary and secondary school pupils who were forced to abruptly part with their school mates, and hoped they would get a chance to say their goodbye’s properly. Other reasons include returning pupils to their natural schooling environment before September. The problem with any of the reasons is that they exclude the most important reasons, namely to sit the all important G.C.S.E and A level exams, which have been cancelled.
Speculation
The letter written to the government suggests such ‘unhelpful’ speculations undermine people’s resolve to stick to social isolation. We are disturbed that it is seemingly being stimulated by unnamed Government ministers.” The British government to share any plans to re-open schools with its members in advance of publication, instead of feeding speculation to sections of the press about an issue that has caused so much debate.
Before any proposal of re-opening schools, the NEU also wants the government to publish its modelling of the increased cases and mortalities among children, their parents and teachers as a result of opening classrooms again. However, some groups have been proposing for schools to reopen before September to give pupils a chance to say their last goodbyes, and attend events like proms which were abruptly cancelled.
The NEU letter goes on to request indications of whether the government is “ developing plans for extensive testing, contact tracing and quarantine in society as a whole” and how long it would take to put such plans in place.
“Given that in re-opening schools and colleges, you would be asking our members to take an increased risk, we believe they have a right to understand fully how any such proposal belongs within an overall government strategy to defeat the virus.”
A Government spokesperson said:
“Schools will remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and the most vulnerable children. We will only re-open schools when the scientific advice indicates it is safe to do so, and will work closely with the sector to agree our approach.”
Image: St Junior’s Stephen’s School