Assistant Education Minister Jeremy Maçon told the States yesterday that a second survey had been sent to students asking about their travel plans so that arrangements could be made to accommodate all those who wish to return.
That survey, which has been sent via the Student Finance Team, is due to close on Friday and the Deputy said an announcement about flights was expected next week. He added that there were likely to be flights provided from the north of England, Midlands and the south-west.
Last week the government announced three measures designed to help students return for Christmas despite the ongoing pandemic. It pledged to put on extra flights with its partner airline Blue Islands, to provide isolation units to those who may need it when they return to Jersey and a reduction in the isolation period for those arriving from red areas from 14 days to ten, backed up by a new triple testing regime.
‘We did send out another survey yesterday [Monday] directly to students from Student Finance, we got around the data protection issues,’ he said following a question from Deputy Steve Luce. ‘We are waiting for the final data to know their plans. There will then be analysis by the end of the week. We then intend to announce the flights by next week so that parents can make decisions ideally earlier in the week.’
