SCOTLAND’S largest teaching union launched a campaign today highlighting teachers’ concerns over school buildings remaining open.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon detailing those fears as it launched its #NotAtAllCosts campaign. 

The union published two briefings, one based on the results of a teachers’ survey in Level 4 areas and the other on pupil behaviour during the pandemic.

More than 3,000 EIS members working in areas with the toughest restrictions took part in the survey, with many calling for “blended learning” – which includes online teaching – to be put in place.

Staff said that social distancing was difficult to enforce with high pupil numbers, and many were worried over their own health due to underlying conditions.

The EIS is urging teachers to share their experiences online to highlight the dangers facing staff daily. 

General secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Teachers are working in crowded classrooms where social distancing is not possible, often with inadequate cleaning supplies and protections.

“Schools are not Covid-free environments — look at the evidence — and current mitigations are not keeping staff or pupils safe enough.”

He called on the government to do “more to acknowledge and address the real fear and anxieties which exist in schools.”

The campaign comes as EIS began balloting members in Glasgow over possible strike action after repeated requests for the council to put in place remote learning around the Christmas break, and for guidance on a shift to home learning.

The teaching union will also see industrial action escalate at Forth Valley College over cuts to 30 lecturers’ jobs, with members already working to rule now refusing to mark students’ work.