NASUWT calls for the reintroduction of Covid mitigations in Jersey schools

Ministers must urgently reintroduce Covid safety mitigations in Jersey schools, amid soaring case numbers which appear to be driven by infections amongst pupils and staff.

The NASUWT-The Teachers' Union, has today written to the Jersey Government to warn that without the reintroduction of proportionate safety measures, children's education will continue to disrupted and the safety and welfare of school staff, pupils and the wider community will be put at risk.

The Union is calling for:

• A pause on whole-school assemblies and in-person staff/parents meetings

• The reintroduction of mandatory face coverings in all school areas

• The reintroduction of PCR testing for all close contacts of confirmed cases

• The postponement or cancellation of any non-essential activities.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

"Schools in Jersey currently have some of the lowest levels of Covid safety mitigations. Face coverings, though recommended, are seldom worn by pupils in communal areas. Carbon dioxide detectors have not been rolled out in the same way as in other jurisdictions and now the requirement for close contacts in schools to take a PCR test has been removed.

"At a time when we are seeing an exponential rise in cases, with many linked to schools it is prudent and essential that ministers take action.

"The focus must be on protecting public health and avoiding further damaging disruption to pupils' education. Introducing and enforcing compliance with the proportionate measures we have set out in our letter will help in the fight to avoid a bad situation becoming worse in the run up to Christmas.

"Pupils, parents and school staff must not be left to have to pay the price of a lack of appropriate Covid safety measures in the run-up to the Christmas holidays."

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