The decision by the Scottish Government to continue the use of face coverings in classrooms will disappoint pupils and parents and highlights the failure to implement other measures in schools to tackle COVID, according to South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth.

Colin Smyth said, “This late u-turn from the Scottish Government just days before schools return will be disappointing for pupils and parents especially as it is directly due to the fact that not all 12-15 years olds will be vaccinated in time for schools returning and practically nothing has been done by the government to improve ventilation in classrooms. The government’s plan for ventilation seems to be to tell teachers to open the windows rather than invest in improving air quality.”

“Parents are constantly being told there is no spread of the virus in schools and Test and Protect has been pretty much scrapped when a pupil’s close contact with someone with COVID is within a classroom setting,  but this seems to fly in the face of the policy on face coverings in the classroom.”