Teachersare continuing to come forwardwith their concerns about the safety of schools and the decision to keep them open in many parts of Scotland next week.
Today, a new briefing has put the focus on supply teachers, while the governmenthas been accused of selectively quoting from public health advice on teacher safety during Covid.
This comes ina week when EIS union ballots in a number of local authorities have identified clear support for action against employers over Covid safety.
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The EIS, as part of its #NotAtAllCosts campaign, today published a new briefing paperthat highlights the views of supply teacherson the difficulties of teachingduring the pandemic.
Key issuesinclude:
- Cleaning was flagged as an issue of particular concern, with members saying that classrooms are not cleaned regularly enough, and that supplies are running out throughout the day.
- Members said it was impossible to socially distance themselves from their pupils when they need extra supportor when the class sizes remain so large.
- It is proving impossible to keep the classroom warm as well as properly ventilated.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Supply teachers often work across several schools, or across several authorities, in the course of their working week. This places them at a potentially higher level of risk of Covidinfection, with a larger than average number of close contacts in any given week.”
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One supply teacher who responded to an EIS survey said: “I want schools to stay open. I have been a teacher for 35 years and am deeply committed to the outcomes for young people, especially after recent events for them. However, the ‘at any cost’language from the government is insulting, given the lack of concern over teachers’ welfare and wellbeing.”
“The results for the whole period show that the risk of becoming a COVID-19 case was higher among teachers than the general population”. Why is this statement not included in the overview of the report?
- Nuzhat Uthmani (@NUthmani)
A number of teachers have reacted to findings from Public Health Scotland, which were also cited by first minister Nicola Sturgeon . The body, in a tweetabout, said findings“indicate that education staff and pupils have not been at an increased risk of severe coronavirus infection by being in school”.
However, teachers pinpointed another part of the same Public Health Scotlandreport that had not beennot highlighted. It states: “The results for the whole [coronavirus pandemic] period show that the risk of becoming a Covid-19 case was higher among teachers than the general population.”
One teacher tweeted: “Why is this statement not included in the overview of the report?” Another tweeted: “There is dangerous spin and political bias within reports by supposedly apolitical bodies and advisers.”
Green MSP says teaching union disputes show that schools “aren’t nearly as safe as they should be right now”
Live updates:
- BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews)
