Scotland must do more to get kids back to school – leader comment

Scotland’s councils need to think innovatively to enable kids to return to school in a meaningful and safe way this August – and the Scottish Government needs to help them do this
Education Secretary John Swinney must help councils to be more innovative in finding more classroom space and extra staff if needed (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)Education Secretary John Swinney must help councils to be more innovative in finding more classroom space and extra staff if needed (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Education Secretary John Swinney must help councils to be more innovative in finding more classroom space and extra staff if needed (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

There is a compelling case to be made that the UK reacted too slowly to the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic. Former UK Government adviser Professor Neil Ferguson has claimed that starting the lockdown just a week earlier could have cut the death toll in half, while the editor of The Lancet medical journal, Richard Horton, lambasted the response as “the greatest science policy failure for a generation”.

One reason for this initial inaction may have been an inability to grasp just how dangerous the virus was and how decisive they needed to be. Almost entirely shutting down an economy is a big call to make and not one any politician would have anticipated making.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As we gradually ease the restrictions, there is a danger that politicians again fail to realise that these are extraordinary times and extraordinary measures must be taken. Of particular concern are the efforts to re-open our schools.

Read More
Scottish schools back to normal 'as soon as possible' and exams will go ahead ne...

With millions of children not receiving any education at all during lockdown across the UK, there is a danger that their lives will be permanently blighted. Unless schools are able to re-open in a meaningful way next term, a whole generation of children may miss out on a large and important part of their education to their detriment as individuals but also to the future economy of this country.

And the prolonged absence of school provision will also affect today’s economy, with many parents forced to stay off work to look after their children.

Scotland’s schools are due to re-open on 12 August with a mix of learning at home and in the classroom, a system which could remain for the whole year.

However Education Secretary John Swinney criticised Edinburgh Council’s plans, which will see children spend an average of just 1.3 days a week in school, as “not strong enough” and urged them to ensure at least half the time was spent in a classroom. This, he added, did not need to be in an actual school, but could be in a leisure centre, church hall or other vacant building.

And if more staff are required, we would suggest councils need to consider seeking the help of retired teachers, teaching assistants and volunteers with the necessary clearance checks. Some education is going to be better than none at all.

In short, councils need to start being more innovative to meet the increasingly urgent need to provide education for our children. And they need greater support and direction from the Scottish Government to do this.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.