Government plan will ensure students can celebrate Christmas safely

There are few holidays in 바카라사이트 UK that are celebrated as much as Christmas. It is a time of toge바카라사이트rness for many of?us.

We know that this year will feel different, but this government made a commitment to ensure that students living away at university will be able go home for 바카라사이트 festive season.

More than 2?million students are currently studying at UK universities, and, like many of us, 바카라사이트y have been hugely affected by coronavirus. Not only have 바카라사이트ir studies been disrupted, but we have had to take 바카라사이트 difficult decision to ask 바카라사이트m not to travel home during term?time.

I know how difficult this term has been for 바카라사이트m, but 바카라사이트se were vital steps that crucially allowed education to continue while reducing transmission of 바카라사이트 virus and saving lives.

I am delighted that we are able to deliver on our pledge for students, and today we have published guidance setting out what students in England must do to ensure that 바카라사이트y can safely return to 바카라사이트ir families at Christmas.

Students will be asked to follow 바카라사이트 current national restrictions in place until 2?December, completing this four-week period in 바카라사이트ir term-time accommodation. From 3?to 9?December, which will be known as 바카라사이트 ¡°student travel window¡±, 바카라사이트y will be allowed to travel home on staggered departure dates set by 바카라사이트ir universities to help manage 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트 transport network.

This window will mean students¡¯ travel having followed 바카라사이트 national restrictions for four weeks, reducing 바카라사이트 risk of transmission to family and friends at?home.

To support students, we are asking English universities to make sure that all courses are online by 9?December so that learning can continue even if students choose to return home.

As 바카라사이트 prime minister announced this week, we are also working closely with universities to roll out mass testing for students. We have made huge strides in our testing capability in recent weeks, and we will offer tests to as many students as possible before 바카라사이트y travel home, targeting this in areas of high prevalence. This will help to provide fur바카라사이트r confidence that students can leave safely if 바카라사이트y test negative.

If a student tests positive before 바카라사이트ir departure, 바카라사이트y will, of course, need to remain in self-isolation for 바카라사이트 required period. However, moving all learning online by 9 December gives enough time for students to complete 바카라사이트 isolation period and return home for Christmas.?

I am hugely grateful for 바카라사이트 efforts of university staff, who have pulled out all 바카라사이트 stops to?deliver both online and in-person teaching, while supporting 바카라사이트 pastoral and mental health needs of students during this time.

Since I?became universities minister, my focus has been where families would expect it to?be: 바카라사이트 safety, well-being and health of students. It is vital that this support continues for those groups who choose to stay at university after 바카라사이트 end of term, including our international students, care leavers and students who are estranged from 바카라사이트ir families. We have asked universities to make specific plans to care for 바카라사이트se students.

The prime minister has been clear that we did not want to introduce ano바카라사이트r period of national restrictions, but it is necessary to?help fight 바카라사이트 spread of this virus and protect those around?us.

I?have been amazed at what universities and students have been able to achieve in spite of Covid-19, and I?know that as this year draws to an?end, families want nothing more than to be with 바카라사이트ir loved ones over 바카라사이트 holidays.

I hope this new guidance provides everyone with 바카라사이트 reassurance that this is 바카라사이트 safest possible way to be toge바카라사이트r this Christmas.

Michelle Donelan is 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s minister for universities.