SCOTLAND’S largest teaching union has welcomed the Scottish government’s decision to mandate face coverings in schools next term, following expert advice aimed at protecting workers. 

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) was responding to an announcement today that secondary school pupils in Scotland must continue to wear face coverings in class.

The advice to keep the measure in place, put forward by clinicians including chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith, is designed to provide ample time for 12-15 year olds to receive their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

A sharp drop in transmission of the virus in Scotland appears to have slowed, with the number of new daily cases rarely dropping below 2,000 in the past three weeks.

The use of face coverings in communal areas for pupils and staff in secondary schools, as well as staff in primary schools, will also continue.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The priority is to keep schools open but as safe as possible, so this delay from the Scottish government with regard to easing mitigations is welcome.”

He said it will also allow more time for challenges around ventilation to be met before winter.