Calls for vaccines for Jersey teachers ahead of schools reopening
There are calls for teachers in Jersey to be prioritised in the island’s vaccination programme, ahead of schools reopening on Monday.
More than 700 people have backed the petition, which the Education Minister, Senator Tracey Vallois, says is under discussion.
The reopening of schools was pushed back from 4 January to allow a voluntary testing programme of staff and students in years 11 to 13 to be carried out.
So far over 2,200 of the 5,000 eligible staff and students have booked a test.
It is understood the government plans to carry out regular PCR tests and antigen or rapid tests in schools on a weekly basis, although an announcement is yet to be made.
The contact tracing process in schools has also been change to redefine who is classed as a direct contact.
Health and safety assessments have been carried out in each school and social distancing measures will be in place from Monday.
Masks, although required in communal spaces, are not mandatory in the classroom.
Meanwhile the question around how students will receive their teacher assessment grade is still up in the air, following the UK government’s announcement yesterday that GCSE and A-level exams will not take place this summer.
Highlands College will be able to decide whether or not to go ahead with BTEC examinations.
January modules and mock exams are going ahead as planned, which the Education Minister has assured students will not put them at a disadvantage when it comes to their final result.