Education: 'Premature to close schools'

In light of teaching unions asking the UK government why schools remained open when the number of deaths from coronavirus increased over the weekend, Health & Social Care president Heidi Soulsby told the Guernsey branch of the National Education Union that HSC was focussed on what was appropriate for the Bailiwick.

Now, Education have come out in support of this message, saying while it would be premature to close the schools given current evidence, it will be kept under review.

Public Health and the office of the Education committee will continue to collaborate on providing schools and early years providers with the most up-to-date information.

The director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink has given the community clear advice about the benefits of social distancing in helping to contain the spread of viruses.

Advice has also been issued for event organisers to consider whether their event is essential, or whether it can be held in a way that meets social distancing advice. If not, then the advice is to postpone.

The operation of schools and businesses is considered essential in this context, however, additional advice will be provided to schools about events held within them, such as assemblies.

The latest advice is aimed at reducing the amount of non-essential activity, in line with previous guidance about non-essential travel.

Dr Brink said the latest evidence shows that guernsey is not seeing the virus being passed from person-to-person in the community as is being experienced elsewhere.

'We must also consider a range of other factors before such advice was given.

'For example, closing schools would lead in many cases to grandparents looking after children, which could be counter-productive given grandparents would fall into the most vulnerable group for coronavirus.'

She said closing schools could also result in the island losing key workers, in healthcare for example, who would have to be at home with their children.

'We must strike a balance and, based on the current evidence, we do not believe now is the right time [to close the schools].'

President of Education Deputy Matt Fallaize thanked all education staff for their ongoing commitment to their students.

'We appreciate these are difficult times for teachers, as they are for our community generally, and their professionalism in keeping schools focused on students' needs is commendable.'

He said decisions were being guided by extensive advice from Public Health professionals and at the present time that advice has led to keeping schools open, but that may change.

'At every stage we will do what is in the best interests of the health of our students, teachers and whole community.'