The SNP has been accused of “breathtaking complacency” over spread of covid in Scottish schools with the Labour party saying that the government has ignored repeated warnings on safety.
Scottish Labour has slammed the SNP’s failure to keep schools safe, as new figures show covid is rampant in classrooms.
Michael Marra MSP, Labour’s education spokesman, called for a huge investment in classroom ventilation and for teachers to be given the same priority testing as health workers.
He hit out as figures showed cases soaring among kids, with three out of four schools in Scotland being hit by covid.
Last week 75 per cent of all schools had at least one case of Covid, including an astonishing 85 per cent of high schools.
Data shows cases rising among younger age groups, despite falling rates overall.
Michael Marra said: “These stark figures expose the dire consequences of the SNP’s inaction on schools.
“They ignored one warning after another – and now Covid is rampant in our schools, risking kids’ health and education."
The case rate for 5-11 year olds was almost three times higher than the general population, with the test positivity rate for this age group soaring to 50 per cent last week.
Census data for 25 January also showed that 13,676 pupils missed school because they had Covid, while a total of 32,133 missed school for Covid related reasons.
Labour accused the SNP of “breathtaking complacency” on schools, and set out a series of demands to improve safety in schools.
As well as reiterating demands for real investment in classroom ventilation, Labour called for priority testing for teachers – bringing them into line with key workers in the NHS.
Marra said: “Teachers have been hung out to dry, left with minimal protection and with no access to fast-tracked testing.
“We need to invest in proper ventilation in our classrooms, and get teachers the urgent testing they need to keep our schools going.
“If keeping schools open is really the SNP’s priority, they need to start acting like it.
“After two years of breathtaking complacency, it is time to get a grip and make our schools safe.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our priority remains to minimise disruption to education while keeping schools safe for pupils and staff.”
“Education staff, who continue to do an extraordinary job in the face of the challenges still presented by the pandemic, are already classed as essential workers and can be prioritised for PCR testing.”
The official added: “Local authorities will receive up to £5 million of additional support to ensure ventilation in schools and early years settings meets latest COVID-19 safety guidance, which is in addition to our funding of £10 million provided to councils last year.”
“We have invested in improving ventilation and air quality in schools and ensured CO2 monitoring across the whole schools estate. Our guidance, developed in partnership with teaching unions, makes clear what is required of schools, including monitoring of air quality on a weekly basis at a minimum.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
