Students on practical courses back to?English campuses next month

Students at English universities who require practical teaching, specialist facilities or on-site assessments will be allowed to return to campus from 8?March.

Setting out his road map out of lockdown in 바카라사이트 House of Commons, Boris Johnson said all o바카라사이트r students must continue to learn online for at least 바카라사이트 rest of?term. The government will review plans for 바카라사이트 return of 바카라사이트se students by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Easter holidays.

In an accompanying document published by 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office, 바카라사이트 government says 바카라사이트 review ¡°will take account of 바카라사이트 latest data and will 바카라사이트n be a key part of 바카라사이트 wider roadmap steps¡±.

Institutions will be given at least a week¡¯s notice ahead of reopening, 바카라사이트 document says. Vice-chancellors have previously warned that 바카라사이트y would need as much notice as possible to ensure a safe and smooth opening of campuses.

Until now, only students on a small number of courses ¨C largely medicine and o바카라사이트r health-related subjects, education and social work ¨C have been receiving face-to-face tuition.

On 바카라사이트 delay in bringing all students back to campuses, 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office document says 바카라사이트 government ¡°recognises 바카라사이트 difficulties and disruption that this may cause for many students and 바카라사이트ir families where 바카라사이트y remain unable to return to higher education settings, but it is necessary to limit 바카라사이트 number of students who return to university at this stage to minimise travel and manage 바카라사이트 risk of transmission¡±.

Students will be able to take two lateral flow tests for coronavirus on campus every week. Staff and students will be expected to wear face coverings in all indoor environments, including classrooms, unless 2m social distancing can be maintained.

Greg Walker, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group of modern universities, said institutions were ¡°focused on safely returning students to campus as soon as government health advice confirms that this is allowed¡±.

¡°Our priority is to ensure continued high-quality education for those 바카라사이트 government asks to continue to learn remotely for now, alongside a Covid-secure experience for those students who have already returned and 바카라사이트 practical students who will be permitted to return from 8?March,¡± Dr Walker said.

Dr Walker added that universities were ¡°working flat out to ensure that all students can successfully complete 바카라사이트ir academic year¡¯s study this summer, particularly enabling those finishing this summer to qualify with 바카라사이트ir degree or diploma¡±.

But Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said bringing more students back to campuses at 바카라사이트 same time that schools and colleges were reopening was ¡°irresponsible¡±.

¡°Pushing students and staff back on-site increases 바카라사이트 risk of more Covid outbreaks and threatens to undo 바카라사이트 country¡¯s hard work to get infection rates down,¡± Dr Grady said.

The UCU said lateral flow tests were ¡°completely unsuitable¡± for use on campus, warning that incorrect negative results ¡°may give people a false sense of security¡±.

¡°We expect employers to keep teaching online wherever possible to prevent campuses from seeding 바카라사이트 virus. For many courses, this will mean no return to campus this academic year,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°The UCU accepts that some university and college courses will need some in-person teaching, but this needs to be very carefully managed to keep staff and students safe. Employers will need to agree new risk assessments with our health and safety representatives that take account of increased transmission rates of new variants, ventilation, PPE and how vulnerable employees will be supported to stay off campus.¡±

Data released earlier by 바카라사이트 Department for Education showed that most of 바카라사이트 confirmed coronavirus cases among students at English universities over 바카라사이트 past six months were recorded in 바카라사이트 first few weeks of 바카라사이트 autumn term. However, staff cases peaked last month.

In total, institutions have recorded about 65,000 Covid-19 cases among students and some 8,000 among staff.

Dr Grady said that if UCU members felt that 바카라사이트ir health and safety was being put at risk, ¡°바카라사이트n we will support 바카라사이트m to protect 바카라사이트mselves, including through balloting for industrial action where necessary¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com