MINISTERS’  insistence that schools should remain open under Scotland’s strictest level of coronavirus restrictions, despite trade-union concerns, has been challenged in Holyrood.

From Friday, eleven of Scotland’s 32 local authorities will move to the strictest level of lockdown, but school staff have been told to continue in-person teaching. 

This is despite government figures highlighting week-on-week increases in the number of pupils and teachers infected with Covid-19 and absentee rates.