Covid: Nicola Sturgeon under fire over class 'door chopping'

Leaders at council umbrella body COSLA insisted that boosting ventilation was a priority for local authorities. They said workforce unions had been invited to provide "specific examples" of ongoing ventilation issues in schools but that, to date, none had been received.  

Figures show 1,772 teachers were absent on Tuesday because they had Covid or its symptoms. This is the highest total recorded since August 24 last year. A further 861 teaching staff were absent because they were self-isolating, shielding, quarantining or looking after another individual affected by the virus.

Such high absence rates are likely to put schools under huge pressure, particularly at S4-6 level as young people undertake vital practical work and the preparation necessary for exam success. Access to supply teachers is currently said to be very poor.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon under pressure over '£300k plan to chop up class doors'

Larry Flanagan, general secretary at the EIS union, said: “The high Covid absence rate amongst teachers is continuing proof that maximum mitigations are required in school and that improvements in ventilation, and air cleaning, need to be absolute priorities for local authorities.

“Whilst vaccinations have been offered to primary pupils with additional vulnerabilities, we have yet to see any progress on a more general programme for younger pupils.

"Given how little we know about the potential implications of long-Covid, this, frankly, is disappointing.”

Teacher absences due to Covid or its symptoms are at a fresh record high for the 2021/22 school year. Source: SG Education Analytical Services

Meanwhile, political opponents have urged Ms Sturgeon to halt plans that could see school doors "chopped off" at the bottom to improve ventilation.

The Scottish Conservatives said the First Minister should think again after an intervention from fire crews. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesperson said late on Thursday night: “SFRS would strongly advise duty holders to make contact with our Fire Safety Enforcement Teams before undertaking any actions which would have an impact on fire safety arrangements within their premises.”

The comment came after Ms Sturgeon defended government policy, saying work to support natural airflow could include “basic rectification of the structure of classrooms”.

Responding to a challenge from Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross during First Minister's Questions, she told MSPs: “When you’re trying to improve ventilation in a room, there’s a number of things you need to do. Partly that can be about air filtration to purify the air. Partly that is about ventilation, so mechanical ventilation systems… but, partly, it’s about taking measures to ensure that the natural flow of air in a room is maximised.

“So, if you have doors or windows that are not enabling that natural flow of air in the way you would want it to, then it strikes me as basic common sense that you would take measures to rectify that.

"And, so, what we’ve done is give additional money to local authorities to allow them to take whatever steps – air filtration systems, mechanical ventilation or basic rectification of the structure of classrooms - to improve the natural flow of air. That strikes me as basic common sense.”   

READ MORE: Education Secretary 'wants to chop up class doors'

The remarks have been criticised by Meghan Gallacher, Scottish Conservative Shadow Minister for Children and Young People. She said: “Nicola Sturgeon has to listen to experts and halt her frankly absurd plans to chop up classroom doors.

“The First Minister has to stop digging in and recognise her proposal is illogical and even potentially dangerous, according to fire safety experts. Nicola Sturgeon dismissed valid concerns from a retired firefighter yesterday and claimed her plan was ‘common sense’. She must listen now that Scotland’s fire service is advising caution.

“She should really be writing to every school in Scotland to make sure they listen to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and not her words at First Minister’s Questions.” Ms Gallacher added: “Our schools need more air filters to protect against Covid. They don’t need classroom doors chopped up.”

Scottish ministers announced recently that funding of up to £5 million would be available to help schools and early learning centres (ELCs) improve ventilation.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, pictured, and Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA spokesperson for children and young people, invited unions to provide specific examples of ventilation issues in schools.

A COSLA spokeswoman said: “The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Sommerville MSP, and the COSLA spokesperson for children and young people, Councillor Stephen McCabe, wrote to workforce unions and invited them to provide any specific examples of ventilation issues in schools.

“They asked for examples in specific settings where the issues had been raised through appropriate channels at local level but had not been appropriately addressed or where concern remained. In those circumstances, COSLA colleagues have offered to do what they can to broker agreement, support improvement and share good practice that can help alleviate concerns of staff locally.

“To date, no specific examples meeting these criteria have been provided by the workforce unions, although COSLA is of course open to receiving these at any time and are committed to working with professional associations and councils to seek resolution. Councils continue to prioritise this area of work.”