Powys County Council has said that schools may need to teach online once a week due to rising energy costs
The Powys cabinet member for education, Cllr Roberts, recently told a meeting of the council that school budgets were being looked at "in detail" for "potential solutions" and that in a briefing document provided to schools, the council had suggested the possibility of a four-day week with a fifth day being taught virtually.
The proposals have been criticised by the Powys Conservatives council group and now the Montgomeryshire MS has said that the plans will disrupt children and would be unfeasible for working parents.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“Rising energy bills are a concern for schools but disrupting children's education by moving to a four-day week with one day of online learning is not the answer. Many parents rely on the school being open so that they can go to work to provide for their families.
The practicalities of what this could mean for both children and families really have not been thought through. What about children of parents who work in essential services and what about children who have additional learning needs?
Children's education suffered throughout the pandemic, and I fully agree with the comments made by Cllr Aled Davies who has criticised the Council’s stance on this.
Constituents have contacted me to raise their concerns over the proposals; the council now needs to show leadership and reassure both schools and parents that this will not have to happen.”
