Nicola Sturgeon has announced the end of the requirement for secondary school pupils and staff to wear face masks in the classroom.
The rule will be axed from February 28th, but face coverings will still be required in communal areas of schools.
Sturgeon said on Tuesday that the Government would consider carefully any further advice from a sub-group of experts and confirm a decision as quickly as possible.
She informed MSPs of the rethink at Holyrood today after recommendations of the sub-group.
She told MSPs the move would “reduce barriers to communication in the classroom and reduce any wellbeing impacts which arise from the use of face coverings”.
The First Minister added the decision to remove the masks in classrooms came after “reducing case rates” for coronavirus in secondary school-aged children, as well as the decrease in hospital admission rates among all ages.
This “encouraging situation” also means restrictions on school assemblies can be lifted, she said.
Sturgeon said while the guidance would be updated next week she had wanted to confirm the change as soon as possible “to give children and young people, their families ands school staff certainty about the forthcoming changes before the February break”.
She added it was “a further step in allowing children and young people a return to a more normal experience in school after many, many months of sacrifice”.
Mitigations relating to assemblies and transition visits for learners who will start primary or secondary in August 2022, will also be eased as of 28 February.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
