Children paid 'huge price' in Covid pandemic, Johnson tells inquiry
Summary
Boris Johnson, the former UK Prime Minister, told an inquiry that children suffered significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect others. He admitted to mistakes made by the government, particularly regarding school closures and the handling of exam results. He discussed the difficulties in making decisions due to the fast spread of the virus and highlighted disagreements with Gavin Williamson, the former education secretary.Key Facts
- Boris Johnson stated that children paid a "huge price" during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect others.
- Johnson admitted the government made mistakes, particularly in managing school closures and exam results.
- There was a lack of initial planning for school closures, with a plan formalized only on March 17, 2020.
- Johnson highlighted disagreements with Gavin Williamson, who criticized the decision to keep schools open in March 2020.
- Williamson faced backlash for closing schools again in 2021 shortly after reopening them.
- A major issue was the 2020 exam results, where an algorithm led to 40% of grades being downgraded, causing public backlash.
- Johnson expressed that the Department for Education needed better leadership during the exam results crisis.
- Johnson stated that while the education disruptions were disastrous, they were part of handling the larger COVID-19 crisis.
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