#WORLD #WORLDWIDE #UK #ANARCHISM #News #Journal #Update - (en) UK, ACG: Universities: Vice-Chancellors Graded F, Failing Staff and Failing Students

 In the next fortnight university terms start and students will travel from around

to the country to their accommodation. In 2020, the beginning of the higher
education year, with students packed into close living spaces and insistence of
many universities to teach face-to-face, led to a surge in cases that then fed
into the national rise in cases that required the lockdowns. ---- Neither the
government nor university vice-chancellors seem to have learnt any lessons from
last year. Students are again being packed back into halls, staff are being
forced back onto campus for more face-to-face teaching, and most universities
(outside Scotland) have removed face covering requirements (as well as other
mitigation measures). Moreover, despite having a year to address the issue of
improving ventilation in most universities there has been little to nothing done
on this score.

Considering the above factors, it seems almost certain that there will be another
surge of cases this October/November. And while vaccines have weakened the link
between cases and hospitalisations/deaths, we currently have cases,
hospitalisations and deaths all running at higher levels than at the beginning of
October 2020. Moreover, somewhere between 27 and 35% of 18-24 year olds have yet
to have one vaccine dose. As such deaths too are highly likely to increase from
the decisions made by university bosses.

Those defending the actions of the government and universities have been quick to
shout about "supporting students". That by "denying" students face-to-face
teaching and services, education workers are being unfair to students, especially
those that are typically in the most excluded groups. These claims are utterly
disingenuous, it has been shown repeatedly that firm mitigation measures applied
early actually lead to less disruption than taking minimal action and then being
forced to apply severe measures (see Stormy Petrel #3 published by the ACG for
more discussion on this point).

Indeed we have the 2020-21 academic year to show that the weak mitigation
measures caused increased disruption to students (and increased workloads to
staff). If face-to-face teaching had been limited to essential learning sessions
at the start of the academic year then it is quite possible that fewer
face-to-face teaching sessions would have had to be cancelled later in the year.

Education workers know that while online sessions have their uses and advantages,
teaching and learning is strongest when delivered face-to-face. Indeed, staff
overwhelmingly prefer teaching face-to-face. But staff and students both deserve
campuses that are safe - that means campuses where face coverings are mandated,
campuses where the proper level of ventilation is ensured, campuses where the
number of people and activities are limited to sensible level.

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2021/09/28/universities-vice-chancellors-graded-f-failing-staff-and-failing-students/
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