NEU chief accuses Boris Johnson of "devolving responsibility" over face masks in schools

26 August 2020, 20:47 | Updated: 26 August 2020, 20:49

NEU chief accuses PM of "devolving responsibility" over face masks

By Fiona Jones

National Education Union chief Dr Mary Bousted accused the Prime Minister of "devolving responsibility" of face masks to headteachers who are not public health experts and will have to endure yet another "massive logistical exercise."

Boris Johnson has abandoned yesterday's advice that pupils should not wear face masks in English secondary schools.

Instead face coverings will be mandatory in communal areas and corridors for children in regions of local lockdowns. For other parts of England, headteachers will retain discretion on this decision.

While Dr Mary did feel sympathy for the Government in these ever-changing times, she criticised their behaviour.

"What I think is really damaging and really difficult to deal with is is a government that says absolutely not, schools are safe, we are not going to change our minds, we are not going to say that students over 12 should be wearing face masks, only then to change their mind when schools will be starting next Tuesday."

She told Tom, "It may sound easy to get students to wear masks but if half your students arrive without masks, where are you going to source them, what are you going to do? It it is yet another massive logistical exercise for the school leaders in those lockdown areas."

NEU chief accuses Boris Johnson of "devolving responsibility" over face masks in schools
NEU chief accuses Boris Johnson of "devolving responsibility" over face masks in schools. Picture: PA/LBC

Dr Mary continued that headteachers "are not public health experts" yet Boris Johnson's guidance on face masks in schools has left them to decide whether coverings should be worn in their institution.

"On what grounds will they make the decision whether or not to insist that students wear masks in communal places? It is devolving responsibility over something where they're not experts and they're asking them to take responsibility.

"Either they have them in communal areas or they don't."

Tom countered that one cannot ask the Government to give tailored advice to each and every institution, observing that the eventuality would always be that school leaders would have to make a choice based on the guidance.

Dr Mary dismissed this, "Secondary schools in England have a 90% occupancy. It is almost impossible between most school corridors to have a one metre social distance, they're too narrow, they're too short.

"It seems to me it would have been a lot simpler to go either do it or don't do it. At least then that gives some certainty to school leaders who have yet another very difficult decision to make in an area where they're not going to be experts."

Reflecting on the evolving advice, Dr Mary said she thinks schools should open, however she would feel a lot happier and that schools were safer if there was a better track and trace system in place.

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

Iran - caller Elias

Caller Elias thinks Iran is 'only joking' when they threaten the West

Haleh vs Khalid

British-Iranian caller Haleh debates Khalid over Iran's right to nuclear weapons

'It's fanaticism, it has to be stopped'

Israel's strikes on Iran divide opinion with LBC callers

Caller forced to apologise over false claims about Muslims

LBC caller forced to apologise over false claims about Muslims

Brits flock to Dubai to avoid tax hikes, but are they 'forgoing their British values'?

Brits flock to Dubai to avoid tax hikes, but are they 'forgoing their British values'?

ULEZ

Dwayne refuses to fight for Britain because he's sick of ULEZ

'I wouldn't mind being an LBC presenter'

Tom Swarbrick ‘offers’ caller Lee a job

Should Lucy Connolly be freed early?

Should Lucy Connolly be let out of prison early? LBC callers deliver their verdict

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

LBC callers react to Trump's trade deal

LBC callers react to Donald Trump's UK trade deal

Eric

Caller Eric brands it 'disgusting' that woman got £30k compensation for being compared to Darth Vader

Caller can’t get a dentist appointment and blames asylum seekers

LBC caller can’t get a dentist appointment and blames asylum seekers

'we can hit net zero by accident'

Kneecap, Reform's 'turquoise tidal wave' and never leaving the UK | LBC's best callers of the week

Oliver

Ex-army caller says Chris Kaba's murder has been made 'political'

Caller Lee believes the treatment of Kneecap is 'two-tier policing'

Caller Lee believes the treatment of Kneecap is 'two-tier policing'

Scientist behind 'alien planet' discovery takes questions from LBC callers

Scientist behind 'alien planet' discovery takes questions from LBC callers