Uni return date delayed
This week’s announcement that the uni return date has been delayed was a hard blow for students. This comes as students have been learning online for a year, and the earliest they can return is May 17th. Although safety is everyone’s primary concern, what repercussions will this latest decision have on university students? Here, we look at what the roadmap looks like for returning to campus safely.
Why the delay?
This crushing decision for students has opened pandora’s box of questions. Mainly – why, when the rest of the world appears to be opening, are uni students being delayed. This comes as reports regarding covid 19 show a dramatic reduction in cases and precautions appear to be making the desired progress. Jenny Sherrard, from the UCU lecturers’ union, said restarting in-person teaching in mid-May “makes absolutely no sense”. Also, “Most courses have already finished, and students would really be there more for the experiential side than the learning side,” she said. Also, the mid-May start is likely to raise further questions about refunds on tuition fees and rent. Graham Galbraith, vice-chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, said “That this date is after many universities will have finished their teaching year shows a government with a cavalier disregard for details. This isn’t good enough,” he said.
<H2>Testing for students
Most universities have created a testing hub where students can book an appointment to be tested on a regular basis. Carrying out regular testing helps to identify and isolate positive Covid-19 cases helping to reduce further transmission. The asymptomatic testing service detects the virus through a simple saliva sample, with results returning the next working day. Not only is it quick and private, but you can also book weeks in advance to stay on top of regular testing.
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