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Coronavirus

16th May 2020

Is it safe for teachers to return to work so soon?

JOE

‘Let our teachers be heroes’

These were the words emblazoned on the front cover of the Daily Mail this past week, in which the newspaper lambasted National Education Union members for stopping the “silent majority” of teachers returning to work next month.

In a recent address to the nation, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that the government would look to reintroduce primary students to schools from June 1 onwards.

The safety of this plan has been questioned by many, including teachers’ unions, who believe that the move is designed to do little more than allow parents currently taking care of their children at home to return to work.

But do teachers want to be heroes? Or do they simply want to do their jobs in a manner which is safest for them and their students? We spoke to a number of them to find out.