Depsite the rapid cases of the Omicron variant, schools may have to stay opened as the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, wants to make closing the doors of schools to be their last resort and make pupils catch up on their missed learning. He says that he is “absolutely determined” to send pupils back to school after the Christmas holidays. But will this change?

 

Over the past few days, there has been over 100,000 cases daily but however, there has been no announcements on any restrictions in the UK. Some students argue for schools to be shut because of the Omicron surge. Others argue for GCSE and A-Level exams to be cancelled due to some missed learning in the previous year and students catching cases before the Christmas holidays. Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi does not want exams to be cancelled at all as “they must go ahead” and to make secondary school and sixth form exam students to have a bright future. Shutting the doors for students will be his last resort and will only take place if there will be an increase of coronavirus cases.

 

The Omicron variant is very much more transmissible than other coronavirus variants as there is a very large number of cases daily than the previous variants. However, some schools opening in January may impose same restrictions as the previous re-opening of schools in March 2020, where social distancing of 2-metres will take place where possible, sanitizing hands and wearing a mask in classrooms and common areas. local schools are also planning on online remote learning, so if a student catch a case in a year group, they will all have to self-isolate and be taught through online learning.

 

So, will this change? Nobody knows for sure yet and the government has not given any details or plans about the closure of schools or the cancellation of GCSE and A-Level exams. The main details to know is that schools are planning their next stages, if cases get very high. There is a certain chance that exams may be cancelled this year, but it is quite unlikely as Nadhim Zahawi does not want to have students missing on their education at all and doing teacher-assessed grades again.