Deputy calls for more PPE as schools reopen

Thursday 04 June 2020

A backbencher and former teacher is urging the Government to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for general use in all schools as classrooms reopen next week.

Deputy Rob Ward said that it would be “reassuring” for the PPE to be widely available after it emerged that the equipment is only available should a child or staff member becomes symptomatic, whilst at school.

It follows the Deputy’s question, asked of the Minister of Education, about what level of PPE will be available when schools reopen at the beginning of next week after several weeks of remote working and home schooling.

The question was asked bearing in mind the Government’s public health advice for islanders to wear cloth masks or other face coverings whilst out in public, and particularly whilst shopping in an enclosed space.

Pictured: Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois. 

The Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois explained that PPE is provided subject to advice from the Medical Officer of Health, Dr Susan Turnbull. 

“As such, P.P.E. has been limited to our special schools open during the school closure period for a small number of vulnerable children and children of critical workers. The PPE is provided for the eventuality of a child in a special school becoming symptomatic on site and staff needing to respond or supervise closely whilst in isolation and waiting for collection by parents.”

Her response continued: “Schools are being supported, by a central CYPES [the department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills, ed.] team, with their planning for a safe return to work. PPE is not required or recommended for general use in any school setting. Schools will be provided with a stock of PPE. which contains the full items necessary for responding to a student or staff member becoming symptomatic whilst at school.”

When asked for his reaction to the Education Minister’s response, Deputy Ward said: “I can understand it will be difficult to teach in anyway normally, for example in a face mask, but you have to take account of the safety of staff and students. And this is unknown territory, we are all in a position that we can't predict at the moment and so I think it would be constructive if there was access for all staff and then they can make their professional judgement or make a judgement as they've gone back to school on what's needed. I think that would be reassuring for both staff and for students and for parents.”

Pictured: Deputy Ward thinks that staff should be able to make their own minds up about when PPE is necessary.

Whilst the equipment is being made available should a child or member of staff start showing symptoms on site, Deputy Ward said that Government “should be thinking about wider delivery of PPE across schools, so that schools and teachers and professional staff can make up their mind as to the necessity for it or not, so it's available. There seems to be plenty on the island now, we're told, so let's make sure it's used appropriately - particularly when we go back to school.”

When asked whether he’s going to take the issue further, Deputy Ward said that the first port of call for teachers with concerns would be their unions, but he added that he would be “available for those concerns to be expressed. 

“If that is the case, then I will certainly take that further. It's going to be a very difficult time to go back to school and to gradually phase back and to get that right and I think it's a trial for everybody. All I know is that that the professionalism of staff and their commitment about our teaching profession will be there when they do it, and if they need anything else these should be supplied.”