Parents are being warned that kids may have to return to home learning due to teacher absences.
Staff shortages caused by the rising number of Covid cases have hit several schools across the region in recent weeks, including Kirkcudbright Academy, Kells Primary and Dalry.
Now, the council’s director of education Gillian Brydson has written to parents warning them that there could be occasions when children have to return to home learning, less than a month after the need to wear face coverings in classes ended.
She wrote: “Although mitigations are being removed, this is against a backdrop of a significant number of positive Covid-19 cases within our staff and our pupils.
“Such high numbers of positive cases are very challenging for a number of our schools and early years settings.
“Consequently, there may be occasions in the next few weeks that, as a direct result of staff unavailability, we may have to ask individual classes or year groups to move to remote learning for a very short time.”
She added: “Please be assured that we would only ask pupils to do this if the situation is unavoidable because of health and safety concerns due to staff absences and for as short as possible.
“The next few weeks are very important ones in our school year, particularly with exams and school transitions. I am working with our headteachers to ensure that we prioritise these important aspects of our young people’s learning.
“Following some difficult times over the past two years, our schools are places where our staff and young people are fully engaged in face-to-face learning. Although the current increase in positive cases is temporarily impacting some of our schools, like you, I hope that we can all return to normal teaching and learning soon and watch our school communities thrive.”
Pupils no longer had to wear face coverings in classrooms from February 28.
The need to wear them in communal areas was due to be lifted after the Easter holidays.
However, rising case numbers means that requirement will remain in force.
Andrew O’Halloran, regional secretary of the EIS union, said: “Covid cases remain high across Dumfries and Galloway and this will have an impact on staffing.
“Schools have experienced remote learning in the past and staff are ready to step up to the challenge.”
