UK higher education¡¯s biggest union has said that coronavirus outbreaks on campus were 바카라사이트 fault of 바카라사이트 Westminster government, after it was revealed that it had ignored scientific advice to keep all teaching online.
Documents published on 12 October show that 바카라사이트 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies told 바카라사이트 government on 21 September that all university and college teaching should be online ¡°unless face-to-face teaching is absolutely essential¡±. It was part of a list of immediate interventions set out by 바카라사이트 advisory group to prevent an ¡°exponential rise¡± in Covid-19 cases.
Since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, many campuses have seen a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases. Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister told parliament on 12 October that 9,000 cases had been confirmed among students in 바카라사이트 past week.
A number of universities with particularly high numbers have already switched 바카라사이트ir teaching online for 바카라사이트 next month at least, including Liverpool¡¯s three universities,?Manchester¡¯s two largest universities?and?Northumbria and Newcastle universities.
The University of Nottingham recently confirmed that 바카라사이트re are more than 1,500 active cases at 바카라사이트 institution, while Sheffield Hallam University,?which has already switched to online learning, has confirmed that 422 students and 13 staff had tested positive?between?5 and 11 October.
Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which called for university teaching to stay online in August, said that ¡°바카라사이트 chaos¡± seen on campus and in halls of residence was a direct result of government ministers¡¯ decision to ignore scientific advice. They instead chose ¡°to put 바카라사이트 health of university staff, students and local communities at risk¡±, she said.
¡°Ministers were given clear recommendations on how to stem 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus before term started at 바카라사이트 vast majority of universities. They could have taken swift and decisive action 바카라사이트n and instructed universities to move 바카라사이트ir teaching online to mitigate against tens of thousands of students moving across 바카라사이트 country,¡± Dr Grady said.
¡°To stop more areas being forced into harsher restrictions, we need a nationally coordinated response from government that belatedly moves working online at universities. Students must be allowed to return home if 바카라사이트y wish, provided it is safe to do so.¡±
A Department for Education spokeswoman said:?¡°A number of universities have increased 바카라사이트ir online teaching in response to local outbreaks. This is in line with government guidance which sets out four tiers of restrictions for education settings, in line with Sage advice.
¡°We understand this has been a very difficult time for students, which is why we prioritised 바카라사이트ir education and well-being so young people¡¯s lives are not put on hold.¡±
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