More students will return to colleges in Scotland from the early April, the Scottish government has announced.
Setting out plans for an easing of coronavirus restrictions, the government said that from 5 April, there would be a return of college students “within the top three priority groups identified by Colleges Scotland as most likely not to complete this academic year”.
This, the government said, was estimated as around 29 per cent of learners. From 17 May, colleges and universities can then return to “a more blended model of learning”.
More: Government ‘balancing harms’ on reopening education
Background: ‘Limited’ return for Scottish college students
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First minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that the gradual return from the early part of April was “not exclusively, but largely, focused on further education, because that is where there is a greater need if students are to complete their courses, to get them with some face-to-face learning on campus.” She said lateral flow testing would be used “as appropriate” to support the return of students.
BREAKING: Some restrictions in Scotland to be eased at the start of April.
2 April
- ‘Stay local’ instead of ‘stay at home’
5 April
-contact sports for 12-17 to resume
-FE campus return
-phased retail re-opening
-hairdressers to open
Live updates ➡https://t.co/4YDJ2GpTHm pic.twitter.com/iTBKnAJ5uD
- BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) March 16, 2021
While colleges in England began to reopen for all students last week, Scottish FE colleges can only welcome up to 5 per cent of students back on to campus for face-to-face learning.
Speaking exclusively to Tes last week, Scotland further education, higher education and science minister Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government would continue its slow, phased approach to students returning to colleges as it tried to “balance the harms” of longer absences from campus and increasing the risk of the coronavirus spreading.
He added: “Every step of the way, we have had to take into account both the scientists’ and clinicians’ advice but balance all the harms, because this is, yes, all about protecting people’s health, but also we need to minimise the impact on education and the young people’s life chances.
He said we also need to consider “the other harms, such as on mental health and financial consequences, both in terms of the income of our student population and the wider cost to the sector”.
However, he said there was “no doubt we are at a bit of a crossroads and the clock is ticking”.
He said the next few weeks were going to be crucial. “It is quite clear that we are running out of road for tens of thousands of students to complete their courses. We are working with the sector as the government is considering next steps in terms of the return of our students to campus.”
This week has marked the return of all pupils to school buildings in Scotland, for at least part of the week.
