NICOLA Sturgeon has pledged ministers will not take a “cavalier” approach to deciding when to reopen Scotland’s schools.
She made the commitment as teachers’ leaders urged the Scottish Government to state clearly that schools north of the border will not reopen until after the summer holidays.
Unions have criticised what they described as the “cavalier attitude of the UK Government”, saying its plan to start reopening schools on June 1 has “created confusion, concern and fear amongst teachers and parents”.
The issue is raised in a letter sent from members of the teachers panel on the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) – the body which negotiates teachers’ pay and conditions – to Education Secretary John Swinney.
Des Morris, the teachers panel chair, said in the letter: “It appears to us… that there is a strong argument to maintain a cautionary approach and to reinforce such by indicating schools will reopen after the summer break.”
He said this would “bring clarity to parents, pupils, and teachers” and also provide schools and teachers with a “significant period to plan and prepare for the very real challenge of delivering a blended learning experience for Scotland’s pupils in session 2020/21”.
Ms Sturgeon, speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing on Friday, pledged: “There will be no cavalier approach to any aspect of this on the part of the Scottish Government.”
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