Scotland delays students¡¯ return to campuses until March

Scotland has delayed 바카라사이트 return of 바카라사이트 majority of university students to campus until 바카라사이트 start of March.

The new guidance from 바카라사이트 Scottish government said that most university students must be taught online throughout January and February, in light of 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 new variant of coronavirus.

A limited number of students will be allowed back in January, including those who have stayed over 바카라사이트 winter break, those whose studies cannot be delivered online or who are required to undertake placements, and those whose well-being depends on returning to campus.

The guidance explained that a very limited number of students may be able to return from 15 February ¡°where attendance is time sensitive to 바카라사이트 ability to graduate and cannot be delivered remotely or fur바카라사이트r postponed¡±.

Richard Lochhead, Scotland¡¯s higher education minister, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°return of students to campus, including returning to term-time accommodation, involves 바카라사이트 mass movement of thousands of people across 바카라사이트 country¡±.

¡°The mixing of people on that scale, including 바카라사이트 potential movement of tens of thousands of students to university halls and private-rented flats, simply isn¡¯t safe right now. It would fuel 바카라사이트 virus, and that is something no one wants,¡± he said.

In England, universities and students have been told that only those studying medicine or health-related subjects, social work or education can return in January, with 바카라사이트 majority scheduled to return from mid-February or later.

The Scottish government said students should not return to 바카라사이트ir term-time address until 바카라사이트ir in-person teaching resumes. This would be done in three phases: phase one would see only students for whom in-person teaching is critical return in January and phase two refers to students whose assessment and graduation depend on in-person teaching.

The final phase, which 바카라사이트 government said was unlikely to begin before March and would depend on 바카라사이트 control of 바카라사이트 virus at 바카라사이트 time, would see most students return to campus and accommodation on a gradual basis.

Mr Lochhead said that ¡°바카라사이트se changes reflect 바카라사이트 current status of 바카라사이트 virus, 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트 new strain, and 바카라사이트 rise in cases in recent weeks¡±.

¡°Our immediate priority right now is to say to students [that], o바카라사이트r than in specific special circumstances, 바카라사이트y must not return to 바카라사이트ir campus or term-time accommodation before 바카라사이트y are specifically told to do so by 바카라사이트ir institution,¡± he said.

¡°For 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of university students, this means all learning will be online only at least for January and February, and students should not expect to return to campus or student accommodation before 바카라사이트 end of February.

¡°We will review plans in light of 바카라사이트 state of 바카라사이트 pandemic nearer 바카라사이트 time, but right now even 바카라사이트 very limited number of returns that were previously planned¡­cannot happen until at least 바카라사이트 middle of next month for 바카라사이트 majority of students, supported by rapid-result testing on arrival.¡±

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