(Title Image: Stefanik via Wikipedia under Creative Commons Licence BY-SA-4.0)
Universities “should help each other out”
Sian Gwenllian MS (Plaid, Arfon) asked about the financial situation at universities. Applications for a higher education resilience fund need to be in by the end of October, which will lie within the firebreak period.
Additionally, the funding is split between support for individual universities and money for collaborative projects. Would the Minister consider changing this so it prioritised emergency support to individual universities?
Education Minister, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor) said any decision on timing and details of the funding would be down to HEFCW. However, the collaborative approach should be seen as positive.
“….there is a huge appetite amongst the higher education sector here in Wales, which is based on values of cooperation rather than competition, to work together to support each other during this time. That is particularly important when being able to resource a blended learning approach, (or) support each other in the provision of bilingual opportunities for blended learning. So, I wouldn’t want to curtail the ability of Welsh universities….to help one another to get through this time.”
– Education Minister, Kirsty Williams
A firebreak now would mean less disruption to learning later
One of the key measures announced as part of the firebreak lockdown was that secondary school students from Year 9 onwards will need to stay at home until November 9th.
Shadow Education Minister, Suzy Davies MS (Con, South Wales West), said this decision went against the wishes of the leaders of the 22 local authorities who wanted secondary schools to remain fully open after next week’s half-term break (like primary and special schools).
The Welsh Government was too keen to instruct and not keen enough on listening, while the quality of blended learning was highly variable and the ongoing disruption to learning was affecting the mental health of teachers and students alike.
The Minister said a firebreak now could lead to less disruption in the future:
“I regret there is any further disruption to education….Unfortunately, Covid-19 doesn’t care about that. The best way in which we can minimise disruption to schools is to keep community transmission levels low. As we have seen community transmission levels rise, we have seen growing numbers of children in our classrooms who have had to self-isolate. If we are to get back to a more even keel and to lessen that disruption to individual classes and teachers and schools, we have to bring the R number down and that is what the firebreak is intending to do.”
– Education Minister, Kirsty Williams
Additionally, she appreciated the stress these sudden changes cause and an element of the additional support given to schools to deal with mental health issues is earmarked for staff.
