Remote learning considered due to Covid absences – councils

A number of councils in Scotland have warned they could reintroduce distance learning due to a surge in Covid cases.

Dumfries and Galloway, City of Edinburgh and Fife said they had high rates of absenteeism from staff and students.

However, they said personal learning was a priority.

Scotland is currently facing a new wave of Covid cases, fueled by a new, more transmissible version of the Omicron variant.

The latest weekly ONS sampling suggests one in 14 Scots had the virus in the week to March 12, while the number of hospitalized patients with Covid rose to record levels on Monday.

In a letter to parents, Dumfries and Galloway Education Director Gillian Brydson warned that many Covid cases were proving “very challenging” at some schools in the area.

She said this means there could be instances over the next few weeks where – as a direct result of staff absences – some classes may have to resort to distance learning again.

She said: “Rest assured that we would only ask students to do so where the situation is unavoidable due to health and safety concerns due to staff absences and as briefly as possible.

“Your principal will attempt to communicate with you as soon as possible if this distance learning change needs to be implemented and affects your child.”

She said although rising case numbers are “temporarily putting a strain on some schools,” she hopes they can return to “normal teaching and learning” soon.

Shelagh McLean, service manager at Fife Council, said he too was facing high levels of staff absenteeism but this was being managed to keep schools open.

She warned that if the staffing situation becomes “critical”, the council will minimize the impact of blended learning on students.

Edinburgh City Council said staff were under tremendous pressure to deliver classes.

A spokesperson added: “We have well-established processes to ensure that instruction can continue in person, including various mitigations within the school, the use of central staff and the sharing of staff between and across the learning community.

“Keeping children in school remains our priority, but when these measures have all been exhausted distance learning can be considered.”