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| Covid in Scotland: Students can return home on long-term basis | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Students have been told they can return home from university accommodation on a long-term basis, as long as they follow rules on self-isolating. | |
| Updated guidance from the Scottish government sets out what those who are studying higher education can do if they wish to change household. | |
| It also says students can visit parents if there is a "reasonable excuse" such as a family emergency. | |
| But short stays without "reasonable excuse" are still an "offence". | |
| The guidelines were issued after a flood of complaints from students who felt they were trapped in university or college accommodation. | The guidelines were issued after a flood of complaints from students who felt they were trapped in university or college accommodation. |
| However, Education Minister Richard Lochhead said the guidance still encourages students to remain on campus if they are able to do so. | |
| He said: "We would encourage students to remain living in their current accommodation where they are able to, so they can continue to benefit from both a blend of digital and in-person learning, where that is possible and the opportunity to engage with others, within the restrictions, to build new networks and to make new friends. | He said: "We would encourage students to remain living in their current accommodation where they are able to, so they can continue to benefit from both a blend of digital and in-person learning, where that is possible and the opportunity to engage with others, within the restrictions, to build new networks and to make new friends. |
| "However, we know that many students may be struggling with the prospect of not being able to return home to visit family and other support networks, especially if is the first time in their life they have been away from home. | "However, we know that many students may be struggling with the prospect of not being able to return home to visit family and other support networks, especially if is the first time in their life they have been away from home. |
| "Knowing what to consider in deciding whether to return home will help support wellbeing and enable students to make informed choices, but it is important to stress that adjusting to life away from home is always challenging." | "Knowing what to consider in deciding whether to return home will help support wellbeing and enable students to make informed choices, but it is important to stress that adjusting to life away from home is always challenging." |
| Students who decide to permanently return to another home have been asked to follow self-isolating rules and not use public transport. | |
| The new guidelines have been welcomed by the students' union NUS Scotland. | |
| Its president Matt Crilly said: "Today's guidance provides welcome clarity to the students in halls, who will be considering their next steps. | |
| "We welcome that students will be able to return home on a permanent basis. However, we are disappointed that the government continues to talk up in-person teaching, which may keep students on campus and increase risks unnecessarily. | |
| "We continue to call on the Scottish government to strengthen teaching guidance so remote learning is the default, and a reality for as many students as possible." | |
| 'Halls of horror' | |
| But Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the picture was still one of "confusion" and criticised the fact the guidance was published so late on Sunday. | |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "On one hand students are being told they can go home, then they are being told they can go home if there are certain circumstances and I think there are still questions over what those circumstances are." | |
| Mr Ross also said ministers should have anticipated the problems given the spike in cases witnessed in the US when colleges and universities returned for the new academic year. | |
| He added: "This guidance should have been absolutely crystal clear before these young people left home and certainly before they got to university and were, in many cases, locked up in halls of horror." | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the guidance had provided some clarity for students but called on ministers to go further. | |
| Speaking on the programme, he said: "We do need to have that asymptomatic routine testing to make sure that people know if they are negative so they can home and continue their studies." | |
| Mr Rennie also called for rent rebates and mental health support for students after a spate of outbreaks across the country, which he claimed were predictable | |
| He added: "This was the biggest movement of people since the start of the lockdown so it was inevitable that we would have this." | |
| Student health | Student health |
| The body representing Scottish universities said student welfare must be a priority. | The body representing Scottish universities said student welfare must be a priority. |
| Prof Gerry McCormac, Convener of Universities Scotland, said: "With the support of their universities, students need to choose what is right for their own physical and mental health. | Prof Gerry McCormac, Convener of Universities Scotland, said: "With the support of their universities, students need to choose what is right for their own physical and mental health. |
| "Unfortunately the current situation with this pandemic means these choices do need to be balanced within the wider public health context. | "Unfortunately the current situation with this pandemic means these choices do need to be balanced within the wider public health context. |
| "There is a real benefit, we believe, in staying at university this semester and benefiting from the blend of both digital and in-person learning and the wider range of services and support that is available." | "There is a real benefit, we believe, in staying at university this semester and benefiting from the blend of both digital and in-person learning and the wider range of services and support that is available." |
| Prof McCormac added: "It has been a very difficult start to the new academic year for the entire student community, both those returning to university and in particular, those attending for the first time." | Prof McCormac added: "It has been a very difficult start to the new academic year for the entire student community, both those returning to university and in particular, those attending for the first time." |