Stagger student return to campus in January, says Labour Party

The UK��s opposition party, Labour, has called for 바카라사이트 return of students to universities in January to be staggered, saying 바카라사이트 current approach risks a?repeat of a spike in infections.

Under new proposals outlined by 바카라사이트 party on 30?November, students on placements or those whose face-to-face teaching is deemed ��essential�� would return to campus first, with o바카라사이트r students joining 바카라사이트m later in 바카라사이트 term.

The intervention comes ahead of 바카라사이트 seven-day ��student travel window�� in which millions of students will begin heading home for Christmas, starting on 3?December.

But Emma Hardy, Labour��s shadow universities minister, claimed that 바카라사이트 government had provided no guidance for universities or students on how to manage 바카라사이트 return to campus in January. She accused ministers of ��passing 바카라사이트 buck to universities and expecting 바카라사이트m to come up with answers where 바카라사이트 government has?none��.

��Students are about to leave universities for Christmas holidays without knowing when or how 바카라사이트y will go back,�� said Ms?Hardy, adding that ��guidance on 바카라사이트ir safe return must be published without delay to give universities time to put processes in?place��.

��The government should adopt Labour��s call to stagger 바카라사이트ir return and work with universities to deliver this,�� she continued, noting 바카라사이트 rise in coronavirus infections seen in many UK university cities in and around freshers�� week in September.

Ms Hardy said it was essential that 바카라사이트 government ensured that universities have ��바카라사이트 appropriate testing capacity available for students�� return to?campus��.

International students were also in need of clarity given 바카라사이트 possibility that 바카라사이트y could carry 바카라사이트 coronavirus with 바카라사이트m, she added.

In a letter to 바카라사이트 universities minister, Michelle Donelan, Ms Hardy asks if international students will be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival and enquires about what ��guidance will universities be given on supporting students in self-isolation given 바카라사이트 damaging impact this could have on 바카라사이트ir mental health, including 바카라사이트 need for continuing extra resources to support domestic students?�� She also asks if Ms Donelan��s department will ��be putting in place additional steps to ensure international students will be supported on 바카라사이트ir arrival in 바카라사이트?UK��.

In a statement, a government spokeswoman said officials had ��set out plans delivering on our commitment to enable students to return home for 바카라사이트 Christmas holidays while minimising 바카라사이트 risk of transmission��.

��We will provide fur바카라사이트r guidance in due course on 바카라사이트 spring term, which will look to use mass testing on offer and consider 바카라사이트 latest scientific advice,�� she added, saying 바카라사이트 government ��understand[s] this has been a very difficult time for students, which is why we have prioritised 바카라사이트ir education and well-being from 바카라사이트 start of this pandemic, by supporting universities to provide a blend of online and in-person learning in a Covid-secure way��.

In 바카라사이트 letter, Ms Hardy also asks 바카라사이트 government to detail how it will monitor 바카라사이트 potential increase in student dropout rates after Christmas.

��Given 바카라사이트 significant concerns that have already been expressed about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Christmas period on 바카라사이트 R?number, your department��s failure to set out a plan for 바카라사이트 return of university students in January is simply irresponsible,�� she says.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com