(Title Image: Stefanik via Wikipedia under Creative Commons Licence BY-SA-4.0)
Shadow Education Minister, Suzy Davies MS (Con, South Wales West), brought up recent school closures and stay-at-home orders issued at several schools – notably in Ceredigion and northern Pembrokeshire. Updated guidance on dealing with cases clearly wasn’t affecting the number of children being kept at home.
Turning to the new face covering guidance for secondary schools, she wondered why students were being asked to wear them outdoors? If there was evidence that “huddling outside” was having an impact then she would be more convinced, but she was told an example of 30 students outside in an area the size of a hockey pitch being asked to wear masks.
Finally, on consent forms for in-school lateral flow tests for Covid-19, it was unclear whether denying consent would result in children being unable to attend school.
Education Minister, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor) said the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire closures demonstrate that poor choices and actions in the community as a whole can – in this case – impact education. We all have a responsibility to stick to the rules if we want to see schools remain open.
As for facemasks, it was deemed easier to understand if students simply wore them at any point in between classrooms. It was a “lovely idea” to think children would keep 2 metres apart on school grounds, but it’s not realistic.
As for in-school testing, it’ll be purely voluntary and nobody will be compelled to take one.
Sticking to the subject, Sian Gwenllian MS (Plaid, Arfon) agreed on a need for a planned programme of Covid-19 testing schools. Were there any specific barriers preventing this being rolled-out at a faster pace in Wales? She also noted calls from teaching unions for smaller class sizes and a rota system being put in place if cases increased.
The Minister told members that tests were being rolled-out as quickly as the kits were being made available to Wales. A lot has been learned from the mass testing scheme in Merthyr Tydfil and schools in the country and Merthyr College were committed to making tests available to staff and students. Consideration was also being given to extending testing to Rhondda Cynon Taf due to case numbers.
Local authorities and schools were encouraged to consider and plan for a number of future scenarios – including the introduction of a rota system – all kept under review.
