Safety of staff and pupils must be “priority” says Sian Gwenllian MS

The Labour Welsh Government should fully support calls for school staff to be given priority for the vaccine within their age groups, Plaid Cymru has said.

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Education Sian Gwenllian MS said the safety of school staff and children must be the “number one priority” as schools prepare to open to more children this week. 

Children aged three to seven start a phased return on Monday, along with some students on college courses.

Ms Gwenllian called on the Government to be “fully transparent” with the latest scientific advice ahead of the return of any further cohorts and said it should be ready to “quickly close” individual schools should clusters start to appear.

The Shadow Education Minister added that safety measures should emphasise adequate ventilation of school buildings.

More primary school children and some from secondary will be able to return to face-to-face learning from 15 March, if Covid cases continue to fall, the Welsh Government has said.

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Education Sian Gwenllian MS added, 

“The safety of school staff and children must be the number one priority as schools prepare to open to more children this week. Getting our children back to face-to-face learning is incredibly important but this should be driven by the data. 

“We expect the Government to be fully transparent with the latest scientific advice it receives ahead of the return of any further cohorts — and ready to quickly close individual schools should clusters start to appear.

“The Labour Government should fully support calls for school staff be given priority for the vaccine within their age groups. Safety measures should emphasise adequate ventilation of school buildings.

“Meanwhile, the digital divide still exists for those who are yet to return, and Government must double its efforts to ensure that every child and young person is fully engaging in their schoolwork.