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English schools move some lessons online amid rising Omicron

Schools in England are set to move some lessons online, as widespread absences caused by the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant have prompted the government to urge principals to adopt more accessible methods. “more flexible” approach to learning.

In an open letter published on Sunday, Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi told school leaders they should “do everything” to ensure face-to-face learning continues. But in a change from previous directives, he acknowledged that they should consider moving some lessons online if staff shortages make this impossible.

The decision comes as the rapid spread of Omicron has led to record Covid-19 cases in the UK, threatening a major shortage in the education sector as teachers become infected. The virus requires quarantine before the spring term, which for many schools begins on Tuesday. .

“If operational challenges are caused by workforce shortages. . . Zahawi wrote.

This could involve deploying teachers to “maximize on-site education for as many students as possible” while providing flexible distance learning for other students, he said.

The advice has been cautiously welcomed by some education unions, who have previously called for school leaders to be allowed to make local decisions about how best to keep schools. open door.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Principal Teachers, said that the absence of many staff was “inevitable”, school leaders should “be trusted to make adjustments”. ” based on their “specific circumstances”.

However, some argue that the letter shows that keeping children in school is not enough.

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Education Union, which represents teachers, said: “It seems to just bow to the inevitable, rather than offer a new flexibility.

To control Omicron, the government on Sunday recommended that high school students wear face coverings in classrooms, an earlier recommendation that went into effect last spring. They said they have ordered 7,000 air purifiers for schools.

High school students will also be tested for Covid before returning to school, which for some will delay the start of the semester by a few days.

But Courtney thinks the government should do more, including speeding up vaccinations for older children and ordering more air filtration units. There are almost 25,000 schools in the UK.

Pepe Di’Iasio, a principal in Rotherham, said school leaders were disappointed to learn the new guidance from the media was just days away from the start of the term.

“We had known about Omicron and its high transmission rate for weeks and didn’t have a strategy until we heard the announcement in the papers on Sunday,” he said.

“I think people will try to avoid moving to online learning, but accept that we may be forced to do so if staff absenteeism is high.”

Edward Argar, the Health Secretary, said on Sunday that he saw no reason for the new Covid restrictions at the moment, describing them as an “absolute last resort” should the situation become terrible.

Argar told Times Radio that there is no data to suggest the need for further curbs. “But that data changes day by day. . . we have to look at everything,” he said. “We need cool and calm heads.”

The minister said it is likely that the number of people hospitalized due to Covid will continue to increase due to the disparity between infection and hospitalization. However, Britain is in a much stronger position than it was a year before the arrival of antiretroviral drugs, he said.

Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary, said the government needed to grasp the shortage of Covid tests for the public.

“Government needs to act together on providing testing,” Streeting said on Sunday. “And I think the health secretary needs to explain why just three weeks ago he told me in the House that the availability of tests was not an issue. And now it clearly is. ”

Argar emphasized that there were post-delivery tests to pharmacies over Christmas. “Tests are available. We recommend that people continue to visit the site to refresh it and they will find that every hour there is more room to order one for delivery or pick up from pharmacies,” he said.

Argar said the government would resist calls to cut the quarantine to just five days – instead of seven – for those who have been in contact with an infected person.

“It’s true that we follow scientific advice and we don’t have scientific advice to cut back on that at this time,” he said.

Steve Barclay, Cabinet Office Secretary, has ordered colleagues to draw up “robust contingency plans” to deal with coronavirus-related staff absences that threaten to disrupt government agencies – including the NHS – as well as UK businesses in the coming weeks.

With the rising number of cases exacerbating staffing shortages plaguing many sectors, public sector leaders have been asked to experiment with worst-case scenarios for the workforce. absenteeism up to 25%.

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