School closures: Shadow Education Minister comments

Commenting on the statement today that secondary schools and colleges will close on Monday (December 14) as part of the Welsh Government’s plan to reduce transmission of Covid-19, the Shadow Health Education Minister – Suzy Davies MS – said:

“This is another instance in just the last couple of days of mixed and confusing messages coming from the government here, and doesn’t take into account differing rates of infection across Wales.

“I am pleased that primary schools will remain open. I hope that the repeated reassurances about the low infection and transmission risk in younger children will mean a good attendance rate.  The last week of the Christmas term is always a special time in primary schools.

“However, the First Minister, on Tuesday, sounded sceptical about whether secondary school children would genuinely be safer at home, even though there are higher transmission rates among older pupils. I share his concerns about the temptation to mix outside of the ‘bubbles’ formed in schools, especially as the recent rises are very evident in young adults.

“Today, the Education Minister, bowing to pressure from teaching unions, who seem to dominate education in Wales, has taken a different view. I wish she’d listened to school leaders who would tell her you can’t switch an entire secondary school onto online learning overnight

“There is no doubt that the situation is grave in parts of Wales, but I would have preferred targeted interventions where needed, not another blanket ban.

“However confusing and contradictory for parents this is, I suppose the best thing to say is that at least she has made a decision, unlike during the summer when she left it up to LEAs and headteachers to decide. It just happens to be one I and many others disagree with.”

The Education Minister stated that she is “encouraging” primary and special schools to continue to stay open. Education for other learners will be placed online.

Mrs Davies added:

“The success of online learning has, to say the least, been patchy across Wales.

“I, and I’d say many parents of secondary-age learners, will be looking for far more detail and reassurance from the Education Minister that after a year of missed lessons and lost learning time, there will be work to see these students through until the end of term.”