'School return in February is a tall order', warns Scotland’s Education Secretary John Swinney - your views

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Education Minister John Swinney has confirmed Nat 5 and Higher examinations are cancelled (Picture: Getty Images)

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'School return in February is a tall order', warns Scotland’s Education Secretary John Swinney

Sharon Munro

This isn’t just about the education of our children. Online learning is a substitute for classroom learning but not all schools can support this. But who is thinking about the impact on the kids mental health? Kids need their friends. They need interaction. Who’s doing something around that ? No-one.

C Marie Smart

Not surprised. It’s going well for our house at the moment. We did all our stressing last time and it affected the kids seeing us so worked up. My advice is to do what you can. As long as the kids are completing some work and interacting with their teachers. Teach the kids life skills. Do what suits your family but do not pass the stresses onto the kids. That’s not fair. They’ve had it tough but will bounce back.

Mags G Moyes

When I think back to when my kids were at school it’s so easy to take things like education for granted. I don’t know how I would’ve coped with home schooling three kids, so well done to all the mums and dads out there home schooling their kids.

Kayleigh Ritchie

Good, I would rather them be at home than risking my kids’ health or their teachers’ health.

Claudia Reid-Mertner

There's a surprise! Stop giving people hope, get on with it and vaccinate all teachers and maybe even 11-plus kids. You can’t keep home schooling on and off for the foreseeable future.

Michelle Roberts

As long as the kids are doing some work, mainly maths, English and getting out for fresh air and exercise. As a parent you can't expect too much out of them as we are not teachers.

Anna Mosspaul

If I was to make a bet, I would bet the schoolchildren won't return to lessons in school till after the Easter holidays in April. No matter what information the politicians drip feed us.

Lesley Watt

Hardly surprising. After mid-term at the very, very earliest I reckon.

Nicole Millar

I wasn't expecting them to go back before the Easter holidays. Just wish they would tell us so we can plan better.

Robbie Gullan

Expect nothing else, could well be March. They have shown how unprepered they are and are scared politically that taking the wrong option will be damaging at the polls. It’s the reason Scottish education is where it is at this moment in time. They have looked UK-wide and taken the ‘what if we are wrong’ decision on political, not educational or health grounds.

Kim Whyte

I’m fine with that, I’d put their safety above everything else.

Louise Wilson

It is logical that schools shouldn't return at the beginning of February, if only because they are scheduled to have a February break anyway. Any decision to return should only be made after transmission falls substantially.

Elizabeth Thomson

It would be easier if they just closed schools and stopped online learning and cut back on other holidays, such as the summer and October, and make up the learning then; that way everyone could plan for work/childcare etc.

Lynda Christie

No one has had to deal with a worldwide virus before . This is not easy . We are to quick to blame if things are not going our way. Good and bad happens all the time. Let’s think positive and and not hold to words that you read are always 100%.

Steve Bell

That's what you get when you let little England decide the vaccine priority list, who have a completely different population and lifestyle to Scotland. If you want to save your country do it differently and draw up your own vaccine priority list with health workers, people with health conditions and teachers at the top. Not age related, as this covers healthy people who don't need it as much.

Scott Robertson

Come on now John, it was only recently you told us school were safe as our kids were getting sent home The joys of a lockdown that's had more alterations than a kilt fitter.

Steven Oliver

I think we all knew when the latest lockdown was announced that the schools going back in February would be a tall order. Swinney is merely stating the obvious. It's looking more and more likely that this term will be wiped out, so why not just admit it now?

Michael Taylor

Get on and just say no school till after Easter. Stop faffing about!