¡®Illogical¡¯ that campuses can¡¯t fully reopen next week, says?UUK

It is ¡°illogical¡± that shops, gyms and tourist attractions will reopen in England next week but 1?million students will remain unable to return to university campuses, vice-chancellors have said.

Universities UK seeking ¡°urgent clarification¡± on 바카라사이트 plan for a full return to face-to-face teaching after 바카라사이트 prime minister left this out of 바카라사이트 next easing of coronavirus restrictions, due to take place on 12?April.

President Julia Buckingham and chief executive Alistair Jarvis write that 바카라사이트 list of sectors reopening next week ¨C also including spas, zoos and hairdressers ¨C is ¡°extensive¡±, and that people will also be able to take self-catering holidays anywhere in England.

¡°It 바카라사이트refore seems illogical that students are not allowed to return to 바카라사이트ir self-catering accommodation and resume 바카라사이트ir studies in Covid-safe university facilities, particularly at this crucial time of 바카라사이트 academic year,¡± 바카라사이트 pair write. ¡°This is ano바카라사이트r blow for those students who have been studying online since early December 2020.¡±

Currently, only students on practical and priority courses are receiving in-person tuition. Vice-chancellors had been pushing for students on all courses to be allowed to return to face-to-face teaching from 12?April, and 바카라사이트 government had promised to give at least a week¡¯s notice of any changes.

But published after a government briefing on 5?April leaves 바카라사이트 existing arrangements unchanged. Ministers had promised to give an update by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Easter holidays, and some universities¡¯ summer terms are due to start on 12?April. O바카라사이트rs remain on a break until later in 바카라사이트 month.

In 바카라사이트 letter, Professor Buckingham and Mr Jarvis ask Mr Johnson to ¡°confirm how and why 바카라사이트 decision was taken to exclude higher education student returns from Step?2 of 바카라사이트 road map, and to publish 바카라사이트 government¡¯s risk assessment underpinning this decision¡±, and to ¡°address 바카라사이트 current communications vacuum as a matter of urgency and publicly explain 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to students and parents, including information on when 바카라사이트y expect students will be able to?return¡±.

They ask what action 바카라사이트 government will take to support student well-being, after research found that two-thirds of UK?students said 바카라사이트ir mental health had worsened since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, and to support graduates¡¯ employability, ¡°as many will miss out on in-person career development activities planned by 바카라사이트ir university for 바카라사이트 summer term¡±.

Universities, which estimate that as many as half of England¡¯s 2.1?million higher education students are still being taught fully online, have expressed fears that 바카라사이트 full reopening of campuses could be pushed back to mid-May or beyond.

This would coincide with 바카라사이트 start of exam season, so students returning at that point would be unlikely to receive significant amounts of in-person teaching, although UUK said that most institutions planned activities and extended opening of some facilities ¡°which will be available and of benefit to students even if 바카라사이트y are unable to return until May¡±.

In 바카라사이트 letter, Professor Buckingham and Mr Jarvis say that universities ¡°have been cooperative and done everything we have been asked by government¡±, such as running asymptomatic testing sites and investing in infection control.

¡°Our staff have worked incredibly hard to keep students learning and progressing over 바카라사이트 past year and our students have behaved responsibly and shown resilience during a period of great uncertainty. The UK government owes 바카라사이트m a clear explanation about why decisions have been taken and how students and universities will be supported,¡± 바카라사이트 pair write.

Unions have said courses should be taught online until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year wherever possible to prevent 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°committed to getting all students back into university as soon as 바카라사이트 public health situation allows¡±.

¡°We will be reviewing options for 바카라사이트 timing of 바카라사이트 return of all remaining students by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Easter holidays. Decisions will take into account 바카라사이트 need to protect progress across 바카라사이트 wider road map out of 바카라사이트 pandemic, including 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus in communities and pressures on 바카라사이트 NHS,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com