UK government data reveals over a million children missed school over Covid on July 15
July 21, 2021, 3:11 am

UK government data reveals over a million children missed school over Covid on July 15

Outwood Academy

The Russian news website RT reported data released by the UK government has revealed more than one million children in England were absent from school on July 15 due to coronavirus-related reasons – the highest number reported since pupils returned in March.

The Department of Education published findings on Tuesday which show that 1.05 million children – approximately one in four pupils – in state-funded schools were absent on July 15.

The absence rates from mid-July are the highest ever reported since schools welcomed children back in March 2021.

The figures showed a 3% increase of pupils off of school from the previous week and an almost 6% increase since July 1.

On June 24 one in 20 pupils – approximately 375,000 children – were absent from school in England, marking a stark contrast to the number of pupils off just three weeks later.

However, coronavirus infections themselves are not the main culprit for the record number of pupils missing school, as less than 50,000 children were off due to having a confirmed case of the illness.

In contrast, the bulk of students (almost 774,000) were missing time in the classroom because of needing to self-isolate after coming into contact with a classmate with coronavirus.

The findings coincide with the government’s scrapping of the school bubble system from July 19 onwards as part of the wider easing of measures on ‘Freedom Day’. Under the previous guidelines, whole classrooms could be mandated to isolate if a peer in the class tested positive for coronavirus.

Other restriction relaxations include under-18s no longer being required to self-isolate after coming into contact with a case from August 16. Instead, minors will just need to take a PCR test.

While the previous system disrupted the learning of hundreds of thousands across the country, several scientists penned a letter to the government published in the Lancet medical journal on July 7, insisting that isolation was the lesser of two evils.

The 120 signatories of the missive insisted that high transmission rates in schools are more dangerous and disruptive than isolation, especially to vulnerable children, as the UK has not yet approved a wide vaccination campaign for its under-18s.

Although many countries across the globe have approved coronavirus vaccines for minors, the UK has been much more hesitant. Sajid Javid announced on Monday that only children who are over 12 and clinically vulnerable, or live with someone who is, are eligible for the vaccine. Adolescents a few months shy of their 18th birthday will be able to get jabbed soon.

levant

Source: RT
Image source: Getty images-RT

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.