By Kwesi-lee Williamson
Schools will officially be able to reopen on the 8th of March – but not everyone is happy about the government’s decision, which was announced yesterday.
The population has mixed views on whether reopening schools is good or bad – and if the mixing of students will cause the pandemic cycle to repeat itself, meaning the country will face yet another lockdown.
Dyllan Williamson, 11, student, said: “I do not want to go into school because I don’t feel safe, and I don’t want people looking at me when I cough or sneeze. I also don’t want to wear a mask to school.”
Hard decision for parents
Parents are going to be faced with a hard decision of whether to send their child/children to school or find another alternative, like continuing with remote learning.
“I believe that children have had enough time spent in the house but to just throw them back into school again with everything up in the air is unfair, especially because they could fall ill,” said Debbie Salmon, 47, care worker.
Many parents believe that only online learning is an effective and sure-fire way to ensure that their children are in a safe space.
But the statistics from GOV.UK show that remote learning is proving difficult for the children mentally, due primarily to distraction.
“My daughter is very happy to go back to school, as being at home for so long was beginning to get on her nerves – and on my nerves as well,” said Jackie Monson, a London mum with a 16-year-old in secondary school.
Students who return to school on March 8 will be given a lateral flow test, and will only be able to resume classes if they test negative. They will be asked to take tests three times during the first two weeks of school, to ensure they are virus-free.
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