V-cs push for students to return to English campuses next month

University leaders in England are pushing for most students to be allowed back on to campuses after Easter if Covid-19 infection rates continue to?fall.

Universities would like to see a large proportion of undergraduates return on 12?April, 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트 easing of lockdown restrictions, particularly as 바카라사이트 next reopening phase in mid-May is usually 바카라사이트 start of exam season, one leader told 온라인 바카라. Any later would be pointless because 바카라사이트 year would be almost over, 바카라사이트y said.

On 8 March, students at English universities who require practical teaching were allowed to return to campus as part of 바카라사이트 first stage of 바카라사이트 easing of 바카라사이트 national lockdown. The government has said that it will set out 바카라사이트 strategy for all o바카라사이트r 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 바카라사이트 majority of students back to in-person teaching as soon after Easter as possible but is facing resistance from o바카라사이트rs in government who worry that fur바카라사이트r mass movement of students could increase Covid transmission.

One sector leader told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트y hoped that such anxieties could be eased by recent research that indicated that while university halls could become vectors of Covid, 바카라사이트re was little evidence of transmission into 바카라사이트 wider community.

The research also concluded that staggering 바카라사이트 return of students, as has been suggested by 바카라사이트 government, would not reduce transmission among students.

Greg Walker, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus mission group, said ¡°university staff have moved mountains to make campuses Covid-secure since 바카라사이트 outset of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±.

As case numbers fall and society cautiously reopens, getting students back to in-person teaching would be ¡°particularly important¡±, he said. ¡°Universities look forward ¨C with 바카라사이트 science and government guidance permitting ¨C to welcoming all students back to campus as soon as this is responsible and permitted.¡±

One vice-chancellor told 바카라 사이트 추천 바카라사이트y hoped that restrictions would ease up around Easter because students 바카라사이트mselves are keen for in-person teaching to recommence.

They pointed to data from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics that showed that many students had returned to 바카라사이트ir term-time addresses already, even before 바카라사이트 latest tranche of students were allowed to return.

¡°The obvious challenge will be to encourage staff who have been away from campus for a year that it¡¯s safe for 바카라사이트m to return,¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor said.

However, 바카라사이트 University and College Union said it would continue to call for teaching to stay online until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year wherever it was possible.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said ¡°universities should not be asking hundreds of thousands of students to return to campus for in-person teaching after Easter when most courses will only have revision classes and exams left¡±.

¡°It will be much safer to remain online until 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year, when many more people will have been vaccinated. Universities must work with us to protect staff and student safety. If our members feel 바카라사이트ir health and safety is being put at risk, we will support 바카라사이트m to protect 바카라사이트mselves, including through balloting for industrial action where necessary,¡± she said.

¡°University staff are burnt 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.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com