The prime minister has said that UK schools will not open before March. The schools might open after half term break on March 8th.
The final decision will depend on the fulfilment of vaccine targets and no. of cases. The schools will get two weeks prior notice.
Although it might sound frustrating to students and teachers, there is not enough data about ending lockdown.
Instead, lockdown is getting more restricted.
This delay will leave parents kids with at least five more weeks of homeschooling and only online classes. Most of the term will not have face to face lessons.
This will also be a significant worry for pupils moving towards whatever replaces GCSEs and A-levels this summer, after almost a full year of stop-start education.
Boris Johnson says that in the first week of February 22nd, the government will have more information on whether vaccines are efficient or not. The data will give knowledge about new hospitalisations and deaths.
The information will allow the government to do a phased and gradual opening.
Mr Johnson said that the government would try to ease the lockdown with time after the school reopens. Still, students returning to school will be the first normal situation.
Confusion and Complaints
After much confusion and complaints about schools reopening Boris Johnson stepped up to sort some certainty.
The target date will be Monday, March 8th, for the same.
School headteachers say the delay is “no surprise”, but safe reopening is definitely must.
And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says about half term should be utilised to vaccinate teachers to help schools stay open.
The prime minister hopes that parents would rather have some clarity about what’s happening with schools, even if that is a prolonged delay.
Schools have been shut down since the Christmas holidays, except for the children of critical workers and vulnerable pupils.