Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Learning: Universities and Covid-19

Monday 12 October 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government prioritises education and opposes pausing academic journeys.
  • Universities have committed to supporting students for food, mental health, and wellbeing.
  • Currently, 9,000 students have covid-19 out of a population of around 2 million students.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Burgon Lab Leeds East
Education
Context

The question arises from concerns about university students accessing digital resources for their studies amid the pandemic, with recent analysis showing significantly higher infection rates on campuses compared to surrounding areas.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure university students have access to digital and online learning during the covid-19 outbreak. The Secretary of State should see new analysis that shows infection rates up to seven times higher than local areas, risking spread to vulnerable groups. Why not move teaching online before term start as recommended by UCU? Will he accept error and instruct universities for default online learning?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

The Government prioritises education, considering pausing academic journeys would be wrong. Despite low overall infection rates among students, those self-isolating need support for food, mental health, and wellbeing. Universities have committed to this through the UUK statement. The Minister is working with sector on Christmas guidance and addressing issues surrounding student testing availability and data collection.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about instructing universities to move to online learning was not directly addressed.

How: Prioritising Education, Committing Support For Self-Isolating Students

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Q2 Richard Burgon Lab Leeds East
NHS Education Mental Health
Context

Analysis indicates higher infection rates among university students compared to the general population, raising concerns about the spread of infections to vulnerable groups in local communities.

Question

The Secretary of State should see new analysis that shows infection rates up to seven times higher than local areas, risking spread to vulnerable groups. Why not move teaching online before term start as recommended by UCU? Will he accept error and instruct universities for default online learning?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

The Government prioritises education, considering pausing academic journeys would be wrong. Despite low overall infection rates among students, those self-isolating need support for food, mental health, and wellbeing. Universities have committed to this through the UUK statement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about instructing universities was not directly addressed.

How: Prioritising Education, Committing Support For Self-Isolating Students

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Q3 Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
NHS Education
Context

The Minister was unable to answer specific questions regarding the number of students self-isolating, infected with COVID-19, test availability, guidance timeliness, and online learning status at Education Select Committee.

Question

In the Education Select Committee sitting last Tuesday, the Minister could not answer how many students are self-isolating, have covid-19, access tests, receive late 'imminent' guidance on Christmas returns, or learn only online. What impact does her Government's incompetence in answering these questions have on virus spread in university towns and cities?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Christmas guidance will be comprehensive, working with sector to get it right. Currently 9,000 students have covid-19 out of a population of around 2 million. Public Health England informs that 68 universities have outbreaks. Next week, the Office for Students will implement new data regime for transparency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about impact on virus spread was not directly addressed.

How: Working With Sector, Implementing New Data Regime

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