Coronavirus: Call to send Fife pupils home early before Christmas

There have been calls to send pupils home for remote learning.

Conservative education lead Councillor Kathleen Leslie says a move to remote learning for two days on December 21 and 22 would minimise the risk of Covid transmission in the run-up to Christmas and provide staff with a “much-needed boost” at the end of the year.

Cases of coronavirus continue to spread across Fife schools. The council is adhering to government public health advice, which says keeping schools open carries a minimal risk of transmission.

However, at least 34 cases of Covid-19 have been identified at 26 nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools across Fife in the last week (December 7-11) alone, according to figures issues by NHS Fife.

Cllr Leslie, who represents Burntisland, Kinghorn & Western Kirkcaldy, said: “Following communication from union members, teaching staff and parents it is our belief that a shift to online/remote learning on Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd December for all pupils is justifiable.

“Contact tracing activities may go back as far as 7 days and therefore, by schools closing to on-campus learning at close of business on Friday 18th December the risk of transmission is minimised.”

Cllr Leslie has now called on Fife Council to move to remote learning in the run-up to Christmas.

“We are aware of the relaxation of restrictions during the holiday period and if pupils are mixing in the school environment it is reasonable to conclude that the possibility of infection may occur on Monday 21st or Tuesday 22nd December and thus a pupil or teacher may still be asymptomatic by Christmas Day when next to a vulnerable family member.

“Therefore, we feel it is prudent to take a position where the risk can at least be mitigated.

“The Scottish Government has said it is up to individual local authorities to decide and we therefore call on Fife Council to move to remote learning for Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd December 2020.”

Cllr Leslie’s comments echo those of teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), which last week called on Scottish councils to move to remote learning for the end of term after ministers ruled out such a move.

David Farmer, Fife publicity officer for the union, said: “During the last four months our members have well and truly stepped up to the plate despite the risks to themselves, colleagues, children in our schools and their families.

“In this season of goodwill some goodwill from Fife Council would be both warmly welcomed and roundly applauded.”

However, Fife Council says it is remaining resolute that children will continue going to school until December 23.

The local authority’s Head of Education and Children’s Services, Shelagh McLean, said: “This has been an incredibly challenging year and I know everyone will be looking forward to a well-deserved break over the holidays.

“Public health teams will continue the ‘test and trace’ process throughout the holidays and schools will support that process again in the New Year.”