London, 13th May: Gavin Williamson, UK’s Education Minister announced that all pupils and teachers will be tested for COVID-19 when they return to schools.
According to the education minister, the schools in the UK will reopen from the 1st of June, and to minimize the risk of the infection, the teachers and the students will have to undergo the test for the coronavirus.
The government hopes that all primary pupils can receive a month of education before the end of the summer term.
Gavin Williamson, on asking about the coronavirus testing explained that on Monday his department published initial guidance on how to work regarding the testing on such a large scale.
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The guidance sets out the protective measures to minimize the risk of infection which will include restricting class sizes and limiting mixing between groups.
For parents and carers, we've put together guidance answering questions about the @10DowningStreet announcement to start welcoming more children back to education settings from 1 June.https://t.co/l7GobdGenW
— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) May 11, 2020
It is reported that initially all the children and staff will have access to the testing if they develop the symptoms for COVID-19. This will enable a track-and-trace approach to be taken to any confirmed cases.
The Government has faced a backlash over plans to reopen schools, with education unions advising staff not to “engage with” preparations for the proposed return on June 1.
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The joint statement, published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), warns that staff will “not be protected” by social distancing if primary schools reopen to more year groups from next month.
We have published guidance which sets out a comprehensive package of protective measures for education and childcare settings.
This will support settings to operate in the safest way possible, focusing on measures to help limit risk of the virus spreading.https://t.co/JNOWxUrkww— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) May 11, 2020
It says: “We call on the Government to step back from June 1 and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out.”
The government said it wants the children should return for nurseries and Reception, Grade 1 till 6 to be back in school from June 1.
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The joint statement, from organizations including the NAHT school leaders’ union and the National Education Union (NEU), says: “We all want schools to reopen, but that should only happen when it is safe to do so.
“The Government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, siblings and relatives, and to the wider community.”
Govt's plan shows lack of understanding about school circumstances and what is possible. It must engage seriously with education unions on a plan for safe reopening of schools.
400k have said schools should not open till it's safe.
Join them: https://t.co/GHPFTYhzue#FiveTests pic.twitter.com/PyL9gHgvUl— National Education Union (@NEUnion) May 12, 2020
According to the guidelines issued by the government, the primary classes will have a maximum number of 15 pupils in a room and outside space should be utilized.
The advice, on how to safely reopen schools, calls for lunch and break times to be staggered, as well as drop-off and pick-up times, to reduce the number of pupils moving around.
The joint statement from the unions adds, “15 children in a class, combined with their very young age, means that classrooms of four and five-year-olds could become sources of COVID-19 transmission and spread.”
“We do not think that the Government should be posing this level of risk to our society,” it says.
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