Petition for commencement of a fully fledged virtual education system to co-exist in parallel with the conventional education without additional burden to teachers and parents by utilising technology, in order to maintain the effectiveness of social distancing and safety of children, school staff (including their families) at schools and allow parents to choose based on their circumstances.  

The UK is so far the worst hit country by COVID-19 in terms of death per hundred thousand people. The government failed its own target keeping the death numbers below 20,000. This virus is new and we still do not know:

- whether children and others with light symptoms could suffer neurological and other side effects in the future;

- whether reinfection could be much more severe;

- how the virus mutates, etc. 

There is already evidence that immunity wanes off quickly and transmission of the virus will continue, so the transmission especially from asymptomatic people is concerning.

You do not have to be an expert to predict that this winter may be the deadliest of all. The only viable method that has been working in tackling the virus is social distancing. While the government may be comfortable with scrapping the social distancing as long as hospitals are not overcrowded, we must not forget the importance of individual lives, especially our children. Opening all schools for all children will compromise safety at schools, in transports, in the streets etc. It will revive the spread of the virus, and all the efforts and human sacrifices made so far will be thrown away. 

Sending a single year group for self isolation if two or more students contract the virus does not solve the problem. It actually complicates the problem, if you think about the siblings of that year group, parents, people in busses or transportation that they have encountered, etc. Moreover, the invisible threat of asymptomatic spreaders is not being paid due attention. Opening schools and then closing them again in a few weeks is more destructive and harmful than staying at home and homeschooling. We need a strategic, long term plan for sustainable education and the government must take initiative NOW. There are different ways to realise this without increasing the workload on schools and parents with the help of technology. The following could be one way to achieve this:

- Primary schools must stay open for vulnerable children, children with special needs, and those of key workers and families absolutely desperate to send their children to school, while those who can be looked after at home, whose parents can work from home should continue homeschooling with new safe and secure, virtual education system;
- Secondary schools and higher education can mainly focus on the virtual education system;
- Government must support and fund schools in introducing new virtual education systems which are safe and secure, includes real time lessons, one to one video Q&A times, video lessons, real time monitoring of attendance and target achievements. Sustainable real time online education can provide daily routines, keep children busy and relieve the mental burden of staying at home. There are already many available tools and platforms to make it possible. We must test the system, train the teachers, parents and children and get it ready ASAP;
- Government must provide free technological equipment and internet connections to those who are in need (still in progress).

Above actions will

- be less destructive and sustainable in the longer term; 
- take some of the burden away from parents and teachers;
- require fewer children to be physically at school, thus enabling the government to effectively manage the social distancing not only in schools but also in public transportation and places.

There were 30 Covid-19 outbreaks in English schools in June when schools were partially reopened for less than a quarter of children at primary schools. More than 40 German schools reported Covid-19 outbreaks in less than two weeks after reopening despite wearing masks and proper social distancing measures in place. Forcing children back to school, increasing crowds in public places will sacrifice social distancing and is the worst decision the government can take in tackling the virus with even worse economical effects in the long run.

Please could you support our petition by signing and sharing. Many thanks!