Students wearing face masks attend class at the Lopez de Mendoza Institute in Burgos after the reopening of schools in Spain. AFP / CESAR MANSO
Students wearing face masks attend class at the Lopez de Mendoza Institute in Burgos after the reopening of schools in Spain. AFP / CESAR MANSO
Students wearing face masks attend class at the Lopez de Mendoza Institute in Burgos after the reopening of schools in Spain. AFP / CESAR MANSO
Students wearing face masks attend class at the Lopez de Mendoza Institute in Burgos after the reopening of schools in Spain. AFP / CESAR MANSO

British doctors urge government to reopen schools before learning suffers


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

Hundreds of paediatricians have signed an open letter to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to reopen schools or risk “scarring the life chances” of vulnerable children.

The UK government closed schools in March as part of the nation’s coronavirus lockdown measures.

Certain primary and secondary school year groups were allowed back this month but for the vast majority of children institutions are not expected to fully reopen until September at the earliest.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is now urging the government to publish a clear plan for getting all children back to school.

It describes the absence of education as “without precedent” and says the break in children’s studies will put the opportunities of a generation of young people in jeopardy.

It says the families “who have the fewest resources need the most support”.

“Children need their schools. Every child deserves to have an uninterrupted education and teachers, school leaders and local authorities have worked tirelessly to provide that before and during Covid,” said Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

“Left unchecked, Covid-19 will exacerbate existing problems and deepen structural social and health inequalities.”

It comes as many shops reopened in the UK on Monday.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, has questioned how stores can reopen but not schools.

“Why is it that children and parents can have access to Primark over the next few months but many of them won’t have access to schools according to your risk assessments,” he said.

MPs have accused unions of making parents afraid to send their children to school by portraying them as “death traps”.

But Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has warned it will be impossible for educational institutions to fully reopen while the UK’s two-metre social-distancing rule remains in place.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector of schools in England, has warned the present situation is a “tragedy”.

“The impact of not being at school is terrible,” he said.

“It’s a great sadness and a great tragedy that this has happened, the gap between disadvantaged students is massive.”

In a bid to reduce the impact of months of lost schooling ministers are looking at proposals to fund private tutors.

The year-long initiative could see schools given funding for private tutors to complement youngsters’ studies in a bid to help those struggling catch up.

Hamid Patel, the chief executive of Star Academies trust that operates 29 state schools in England, says his schools are looking to bring children back in their summer holidays.

"Our strategy to bridge widening gaps, foster resilience and set our pupils up for success is built on planned interventions over a 12-month period," he told The Guardian newspaper.

“We intend to use a set of measures including summer holiday camp, Saturday school and planned literacy and numeracy catch-up sessions within the school timetable.”

On Wednesday, Lord Bethell, the junior health minister, told MPs of the Science and Technology Select Committee that a viable tracing app would not be available until the winter months and added it was not a “priority” at the moment.

The app, which has been hit with delays, was due to be launched in May and it had been hoped it would provide reassurance to parents.

UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
UAE v Ireland

1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets

2nd ODI, January 12

3rd ODI, January 14

4th ODI, January 16

Essentials

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.

The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.

 

Generation Start-up: Awok company profile

Started: 2013

Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev

Sector: e-commerce

Size: 600 plus

Stage: still in talks with VCs

Principal Investors: self-financed by founder

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

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Cutting red tape on import and export of food

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:

Toss: Australia, chose to bat

Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)

Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48

India: 237 (50 ov)

Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46

Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)

Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)

'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Company%20profile
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Scores

Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)

Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)