Council to employ over 30 additional cleaners for schools

SHETLAND Islands Council is seeking to employ 32 additional cleaners to regularly clean the islands’ schools once they are expected to reopen on 11 August.

Shetland along with the rest of Scotland is set to introduce a ‘blended learning’ model with some in-school teaching in smaller classes observing social distancing rules taking place alongside continued home schooling.

The reopening of schools after almost five months is one of the most controversial topics of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The SIC is to set to spend more than half a million pounds on the 32 new part-time positions which are expected to be temporary for about 12 months.

The council said that the main duties of the day cleaner posts would include routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, contact points, bathrooms and high traffic areas while schools are open.

Chair of the council’s education and families committee George Smith said: “Council staff have been working hard to arrange for pupils to be able to attend schools from 11 August.

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“The health and safety of pupils and school staff is our foremost consideration and regular cleaning of our schools will reduce the risk of infection.

“We need additional staff to do this and I hope that we will see a good number of applicants for these posts.”

The 32 posts are all advertised on the myjobscotland portal with a closing date of 28 June 2020.