The PM has voiced his concerns and stressed how important it is that children return to school soon.
The PM is determined to get kids back in classrooms.
He said in a message to parents that it was “vitally important” they returned soon. As schools in the UK and Ireland are getting ready to reopen, the PM has said that the risk of getting coronavirus from school was small.
He said: “It is far more damaging for a child’s development and their health to be away from school any longer”.
His concerns are matched by many other ministers, who agree it’s very important children go back to school as soon as possible. Scottish schools always go back slightly sooner than other schools in the UK, as some children have started to go back already. Schools in England are set to reopen in September as usual.
Schools over the summer have been modified in ways to keep pupils safe when they’re there – which the PM has thanked staff for.
He also said: “I have previously spoken about the moral duty to reopen schools to all pupils safely.”
“We have always been guided by our scientific and medical experts, and we now know far more about coronavirus than we did earlier this year.”
Some comments made by Professor Chris Whitty were also relayed by Johnson in the statement, he continued: “The risk of contracting Covid-19 in school is very small and it is far more damaging for a child’s development and their health and wellbeing to be away from school any longer”.
“This is why it’s vitally important that we get our children back into the classroom to learn and to be with their friends.
“Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chances of our children than returning to school.”
Professor Whitty claims that the effect not returning to school will have on pupils far outweighs the risk of coronavirus for students.
It’s not currently up for debate whether children are set to return or not, as its at the top of the governments to-do list. Time will tell how safe classrooms and schools really are, but all government officials can do is work with the data they have – and it’s clear, to them, that schools must reopen soon.
