Parental support required as school closures extended
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP has called for a package of practical support for parents after it was announced that schools will be closed for longer than planned.
Responding to the First Minister’s statement in parliament this afternoon, Mr Harvie also pressed on the need to accelerate the vaccination for teachers and other school staff.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“With schools closing for longer than planned, there is a need for a package of practical support for parents, not only from government but also from employers, especially for single parents, for those living in cramped conditions, and those coping with working from home while schools are closed. People struggled last time but got through. They need and deserve our help if they have to do it again.
“I hope the First Minister agrees that teaching unions are rightly concerned about the safety of pupils and the wider community, as well as school staff - it has been appalling to see some people, including prominent political figures, appear to question their judgement and even their integrity in their call for a precautionary response to the pandemic.
“I welcome the fact that the First Minister appears to acknowledge that more needs to be done to accelerate vaccination for teachers and other school staff. We must see meaningful progress on this before the review date of the 18th January.”