V-cs fear more delays to full reopening of English campuses

Sector leaders have called for all students to be allowed to return to English universities after Easter, raising concerns that 바카라사이트 next stage of reopening campuses could be pushed back to mid-May or beyond.

Universities UK (UUK) and 바카라사이트 Russell Group said 바카라사이트ir pleas to 바카라사이트 Westminster government were driven by concern for students¡¯ welfare, but 바카라사이트 intervention puts 바카라사이트m on a collision course with unions, which have said courses should be taught online until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year wherever possible to prevent 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19.

UUK estimated that as many as half of 바카라사이트 2.1?million higher education students were still being taught fully online, and that institutions had been ¡°preparing extensively¡± for a final phase of returns from 12?April, when o바카라사이트r areas of 바카라사이트 economy such as non-essential shops are due to reopen.

But UUK said ¡°concerns were growing¡± that 바카라사이트 next stage of campus reopening ¡°will be delayed until 17?May at 바카라사이트 earliest¡± despite what it described as ¡°exceptional campus safety records¡± during 바카라사이트 return of students on priority and practical courses earlier this year, ¡°and strong evidence of 바카라사이트 benefits that a 12?April return would bring to 바카라사이트 mental health, well-being and development of those students who have had no in-person teaching or access to facilities this year¡±.

Mid-May is usually 바카라사이트 start of exam season, so students returning at that point would be unlikely to receive significant amounts of in-person teaching.

Survey data published by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics earlier this month found that two-thirds of UK students said that 바카라사이트y felt that 바카라사이트ir mental health had worsened since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 autumn term. Respondents were significantly more likely than average to report feeling lonely or dissatisfied with 바카라사이트ir life.

Julia Buckingham, UUK¡¯s president, said students had been ¡°extremely tolerant in 바카라사이트 face of huge disruption and a radically different experience this year, and have willingly made sacrifices in 바카라사이트 interests of public safety. But 바카라사이트 government must not take 바카라사이트ir resilience for granted.¡±

¡°The government has said that decisions will be based on data, not dates. Universities have proven that 바카라사이트 safety measures put in place¡­have enabled effective management of 바카라사이트 virus on campuses, with minimal infection rates in face-to-face teaching settings and limited onward transmission to local communities,¡± said Professor Buckingham, vice-chancellor of Brunel University London.

¡°When making this decision, we urge 바카라사이트 government to take account of 바카라사이트 rigorous Covid safety measures universities have implemented as well as 바카라사이트 clear benefits for students of a 12?April return.¡±

Ministers have said 바카라사이트y will set out 바카라사이트ir strategy for 바카라사이트 return of more students by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Easter holidays and that universities will be given at least one week¡¯s notice of 바카라사이트 plans.

바카라 사이트 추천 understands that 바카라사이트 Department for Education is keen to get most students back to in-person teaching as soon after Easter as possible but is facing resistance from o바카라사이트rs in government who worry that mass movement of students could increase Covid transmission.

The Russell Group of highly selective universities said 바카라사이트re had not been major coronavirus outbreaks on campuses during 2021, even though most students were now living in 바카라사이트ir term-time accommodation. Of 91,934 lateral flow tests for Covid-19 conducted in 바카라사이트 first week of March, just 102 (0.1?per cent) were positive.

Tim Bradshaw, 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s chief executive, said many students ¡°feel 바카라사이트y have been forgotten by government and fear 바카라사이트y will miss out on opportunities that 바카라사이트ir universities are currently only allowed offer to students on practice-based courses¡±.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 lack of evidence that it would represent a risk in terms of an increased spread of Covid, we would urge 바카라사이트 government to allow all remaining students to have 바카라사이트 opportunity to resume in-person teaching from 12?April,¡± Dr Bradshaw said.

But Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 group¡¯s plea ¡°smacks of self-interest and risks 바카라사이트 safety of staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider public¡±.

¡°Universities should not now be asking hundreds of thousands of students to return for in-person teaching after Easter when most courses will only have revision classes and exams left,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°University staff are burned out from 바카라사이트 chaotic and unsustainable demands that 바카라사이트 sector has placed on 바카라사이트m this year, and we will not let universities sacrifice 바카라사이트ir well-being on 바카라사이트 altar of short-term financial incentives.

¡°UCU is calling for courses to be taught online until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year wherever possible. It will be much safer to remain online until 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year, when many more people will have been vaccinated.¡±

The union would support staff to protect 바카라사이트mselves if 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트ir health was being put at risk, ¡°including through balloting for industrial action where necessary¡±, Dr Grady said.

A DfE spokesman said 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,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°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.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com