Nicola Sturgeon backs disciplinary action as a ‘last resort’ against students

Nicola Sturgeon backs disciplinary action as a ‘last resort’ against students

Nicola Sturgeon has backed disciplinary action being taken as a “last resort” against students who breach new rules aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 on university campuses.

Speaking as the daily increase in cases reached a record high, with 558 Scots testing positive in the past 24 hours, the First Minister said that for those who are “flagrantly breaching rules, then of course discipline and enforcement has to be part of the answer”.

University principals – backed by the Scottish Government – have made it “absolutely clear” to students that they must not take part in house parties.

In addition, universities will adopt a “yellow card/red card” approach to breaches of discipline, with students warned the consequences could include “potential discontinuation of study”.

Bruce Adamson, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, has raised concerns about the human rights implications of such measures, saying he is seeking an “urgent conversation” with ministers and universities “to establish the nature and legal basis for these restrictions”.

Asked if she supports such a tough stance, Ms Sturgeon said: “Yes I do support universities taking disciplinary action as a last resort, and as a back stop.

“I would not expect universities – and I spoke to principals this morning and I know this is not their intention – to use discipline as a first resort.

“But as with the police, if you have people who are just flagrantly breaching rules then of course discipline and enforcement has to be part of the answer.”

The National Union of Students has claimed students are being “unfairly” blamed for spreading the disease, and it condemned the “unjustified step of applying different rules to students over and above the rest of the adult population”.

But hundreds of students are currently self-isolating after outbreaks of the virus at Glasgow, Edinburgh Napier and other universities.

The latest daily coronavirus figures also show a rise in positivity rates – with almost one in 10 (9.5%) of those tested confirmed as having Covid-19.

At her coronavirus briefing on Friday, Ms Sturgeon also expressed sympathy for students, many of whom will be living away from home for the first time and could being having to self-isolate in halls of residence.

She insisted the decision to allow students to return to campus was not linked to the drop in income universities would have suffered had they been told to stay away.

Describing herself as the “devoted auntie” of someone who has just left home to go to university, she told students directly: “I am so sorry, so heart sorry, that this time of your lives is being made as tough as it is just now.

“I really feel for you, but I feel especially for those of you starting university for the first time and, of course, living alone for the first time.”

She said the Scottish Government is considering whether self-isolating students could be allowed to return to their family homes, adding guidance on this may be issued over the weekend.

But she cautioned: “I’m going to be frank, that’s a difficult balancing act, because if you go home after you’ve been asked to self-isolate that may have implications for your family, who then also may be asked to self-isolate if you test positive.”

She said she did not want to “underplay the significance” of asking students not to visit pubs this weekend, but said it is not the only difficult request she has made during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I have asked people for six months now not to visit their vulnerable relatives in care homes.

“I’m having to ask people to do really difficult things all of the time.

“So I am asking all students for a weekend to not go to pubs, and hopefully that will help us stem these outbreaks.”

But Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard claimed students are “being punished for the ​SNP Government​’s incompetence and lack of foresight”.

He said: “Hundreds of students ​are being forced to remain in cramped student accommodation​, and the guidance ​is as clear as mud​. ​The Scottish Government has serious questions to answer.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said ministers had been “caught flat-footed” by the return of students to universities.

“Students have been treated shabbily and as second-class citizens,” he said. “Last minute, panicked changes to the rules and laws has left students feeling cheated at being trapped in expensive accommodation, unable to go home and with no in-person teaching for months.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie added: “Students must be supported to isolate comfortably and safely, not be effectively locked up.

“The Scottish Government must clarify the guidance quickly, and give students an answer about whether it’s both lawful and safe for them to return home to isolate.”

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