LONDON (AP) — David Waugh is putting down barrier tape and spraying yellow lines on the ground outside the main door of his school near Manchester.
Waugh, who oversees five schools in northwestern England, already has painted yellow arrows to ensure that children follow a one-way path around the building when they return next month from an extended break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Soft furniture and play equipment have been cordoned off, and desks have been spread apart. Waugh has stocked up on 7,500 face masks, hundreds of pairs of gloves, hand sanitizer and other supplies.
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“The government says we don’t need them, but I certainly couldn’t have risked not having them,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s the unknown, the utter unknown. We’re taking baby steps forward at the moment, trying to win the hearts and minds of parents and teachers.”
Since March 20, the coronavirus has forced British schools to close to all but a small number of key workers’ children and those under social care. The government wants children to start returning to primary schools in stages from June 1. Those going back first include the youngest — ages 4 to 6. Daycare providers also have been told to start welcoming back babies and toddlers from June.
The reopening has divided the country and faced vehement opposition from teachers unions, which say it’s too risky for everyone and could cause a spike in infections. Dozens of local authorities have refused to follow the reopening timetable. Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have their own governments, are not opening schools until August at the earliest.
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Worried parents are texting each other the same question: “Are you sending your kid back?”
Justine Roberts, who founded parenting website Mumsnet, said the decision to send the youngest children back first is “causing bafflement and some anger, and a suspicion that decisions are being driven by the need to get people back to work.”
Teachers union NASUWT cited a poll of 29,000 members that suggested only 5% think the plan is safe. Other unions have told members not to engage with planning for an early June opening.
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Mary Bousted, joint leader of the National Education Union, said the plan is “simply not safe, it is not fair, it is not feasible.”
Unions say they are unconvinced by the scientific evidence on the topic published by the government. They also want the tracking and tracing system for those infected to be in place first.
Charlotte Smith, whose 14-year-old son is unaffected by the plan, joined a small protest of the reopening Thursday in Manchester. She didn’t believe administrators have thought through how to work out social distancing “that isn’t damaging to kids.”
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“There’s absolutely no way I would want my kid to go into an environment that’s psychologically damaging for them,” she said. “We need to rethink education and we can’t do that in two weeks.”
In its guidance to schools, the Education Department said face masks are not recommended in schools, and acknowledged that young children can’t be expected to keep the 2-meter (6-foot) social-distancing guidelines. It said class sizes should be halved and limited to a maximum of 15, and that children should be separated into the same small groups.
Waugh’s school group, the True Learning Partnership in Cheshire, is doing that and more.
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He is planning to split students into “mini school” zones, each with separate entrances, daily timetables and play areas. Meals will be delivered to classrooms. Teachers’ desks will be 2-meter “exclusion zones” ringed off with tape. Even the cutlery will be assigned to separate groups.
It’s “more than feasible” to make schools safe, he said, even if it’s a “logistical nightmare.”
English schools will be following those in Denmark, Germany, France and elsewhere that are easing restrictions. Proponents say the effect of being away from the classroom has been felt keenly by the most disadvantaged families.
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A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies said school closures will almost certainly increase educational inequality. Wealthier children are spending 30% more time on home learning during lockdown — about 5.8 hours a day — than those in poorer families and have access to better resources like online tutors, it found.
Working parents, too, are increasingly frustrated about working from home with children. Sarah Hesz, a mother of three, says that after considering the risks, she plans to send her 5-year-old back to school next month.
“People are so torn, worried and confused about what is best,” said Hesz, who works for a childcare app. “There is a massive part of me that want my kids to be learning again, to be with their friends again. At the moment, it’s just impossible. I can’t home school my kids and work.”
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But it’s a tough sell for many, and one key concern is the risk of infection from children to adults. The confusion was highlighted when the doctors union, the British Medical Association, first backed teachers who oppose a June 1 reopening, only to change its stance days later.
The BMA said Wednesday that while there was growing evidence that the virus risk to children is extremely small, there is conflicting evidence about the likelihood of children spreading it to others.
“A zero-risk approach is not possible,” it concluded. “This is about ‘safe’ being an acceptable level of risk.”
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Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, acknowledged that data on how infectious children are is “pretty sparse.”
“There are significant welfare and wellbeing issues for children who are out (of school) months and months on end. It’s delicate and difficult, and I accept that,” he said.
Jane Cooper, who teaches older children at Lostock Hall Primary School, said she was looking forward to seeing her pupils again. She knows the new normal won’t be easy, especially for younger children who want to cuddle or hold hands.
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“We can’t really sit next to children and teach them as we normally do, it’s not as hands-on teaching,” she said, adding that her students “will understand it, but the little ones won’t be able to, and that’s a bit sad really.”
Passionate news enthusiast with a flair for words. Our Editorial Team author brings you the latest updates, in-depth analysis, and engaging stories. Stay informed with their well-researched articles.
The internet is currently divided following a viral video that showed remarks by students from Galgotias University about Sam Pitroda, the Chair of the Indian Overseas Congress, regarding the ‘inheritance tax’.
As per Business Standard, this incident that has filled the entire nation with laughter took place in Greater Noida. Purposedly, the students of Galgotias University held a protest in Delhi.
Galgotias University Students Rally With ‘Unclear’ Agenda Spark Meme Frenzy
When an AajTak reporter reached the protest site, he questioned the students engaged in the protests. The reporter asked the students the motive behind their protest and the message their placards conveyed.
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Ye chaman sab India ke future hai..bheed ban kar rah Gaya hai aaj kal ka youth.. Social media ka influence hai sab. Aab to samne aa gaya na ki #galgotiasuniversity noida mai kaise admissions ho raha.. DONATION WALE STUDENTS pic.twitter.com/C5ZvP1BmMC— Pawan Shukla (@Shukla9_) May 1, 2024
Students seemed clueless about the questions asked. While responses from other students were even funny and laughable.
Thus, the video showcasing students’ response has gone viral all over the social media platforms. The video has also garnered funny reactions from netizens online.
Meme Fest All Over the Internet
When the students were questioned, their relies on were just a comedy of errors.
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One student stated that his motive behind the protest was his desire for a developed India. However, he lacked the basic specifics.
Another student acknowledged that he was clueless regarding the Congress manifesto. Several protestors even struggled to read what was printed on their placards.
When a student was asked to read the slogan written on the placard, the student read ‘urban naxal’ as ‘urban maxwell.’
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It seemed that the protest was made to touch a range of issues in the nation, such as women’s empowerment, urban naxalism, NaMo’s stand on mangalsutra and wealth redistribution, inheritance tax and many more. However, clarity remains elusive.
Videos circulating on social media garnered mixed reactions. Some laughed while others their criticism and showed disappointment at the students’ lack of awareness.
Responses received from students even triggered a meme fest all over the internet. Take a look!
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An indian university of international repute is demonised and Galgotia is weaponised! 😂😂
You all know why. Today we are ruled by JNU students Jaishankar and Nirmala Tai. Tomorrow in Viksit Bharat we will be ruled by Galgotia Graduates! pic.twitter.com/TGRHHdE7If— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) May 2, 2024
Parents of Galgotia University students watching the interview of their kids on Aaj Tak 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WqgqsS4GOM— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) May 1, 2024
Galgotia University of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and its owner are proudly displaying their illiterate students who brought shame to this university.
Congress-led INDIA Alliance govt will ensure that this university refunds the fees to these student’s parents.
A huge update for those who were a part of COVID vaccination programs! Rare side effects of the vaccination have surfaced, questioned by numerous health experts.
The Economic Times reported that AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has legally acknowledged that its product, Covishield, can cause certain rare side effects.
AstraZeneca developed Covishield, which was produced by the Serum Institute of India. In India, Covishield was one of the primary vaccines provided to citizens.
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AstraZeneca’s Statements
AstraZeneca is currently facing a lawsuit in a UK court. The lawsuit was filed after claims surfaced on the internet that AstraZeneca’s vaccine caused deaths. To date, 51 deaths have been reported, hence 51 cases have been filed against the company.
AstraZeneca finally admitted in one of the court papers that, “Covishield can, in very rare cases, cause TTS.” TTS stands for Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a medical expert, told ANI,
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“TTS is thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which is basically a clot in the blood vessels of the brain or elsewhere, along with a low platelet count. It is known to occur in very rare instances following certain types of vaccines and also from other causes. According to the WHO, adenovirus vector vaccines, in particular, have rarely been associated with this condition.”
TTS: About, Diagnosis, Treatment
TTS, or Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, is a serious yet rare health condition characterized by low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) along with the formation of blood clots (thrombosis).
Various symptoms associated with TTS include neurological deficits, shortness of breath, leg swelling, abdominal pain, and severe headaches.
TTS can be diagnosed if blood tests are conducted to assess the levels of platelets in the blood. Moreover, to detect blood clots, imaging studies are required, reported the Times of India.
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TTS can be treated with a multidisciplinary approach. It includes supportive care, anticoagulation therapy to prevent blood clotting, and hospitalization.
To manage and stabilize platelet levels in the body, plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can also be performed.
Patients with TTS are prone to severe complications like death and organ damage. Hence, close monitoring of patients by healthcare providers is a must.
The prime suspect in the murder case of a famous Punjabi singer, Goldy Brar, is alive, reported TOI.
Goldy is the infamous Canadian gangster who was earlier rumored to be dead in an alleged incident that took place at Fairmont and Holt Avenue last Tuesday.
In the incident, one of the two individuals reportedly got gunshot wound and succumbed to injuries at the hospital. You can read our story about California shooting incident in which Goldy Brar allegedly got shot here.
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As per the US police, reports of Goldy’s disappearance were circulating all over the internet on Tuesday. However, the U.S. authorities clarified the rumors of Brar’s disappearance in a California shooting incident are untrue.
The claims were refuted by the Fresno police department and labeled them as fake. William J. Dooley, the Lieutenant, debunked online speculations and announced that the victim of the California shooting was not Goldy Brar.
William J. Dooley stated,
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“If you are inquiring because of the online chatter claiming that the shooting victim is ‘Goldy Brar’, we can confirm that this is absolutely not true.”
Who is Goldy Brar?
Goldy Brar, hailing from Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, is a close ally of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. It is anticipated that he is the mastermind behind the assassination of Sidhu Moose Wala, the Punjabi pop icon.
According to The Economic Times, in January 2024, Satinderjit Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, was designated as a terrorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the anti-terror law, UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).
Orders by the government-linked Goldy Brar to a listed terrorist organization under the UAPA, Babbar Khalsa International.
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Goldy Brar has never ceased to vanish from police’s eyes since he murdered Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. His father also was a Police Officer himself.
After completing his graduation and getting a BS degree, he has been operating from Canada remotely.
Last year Goldy’s statement, targetting Bollywood superstar Salman Khan next made huge media headlines.
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