UNION chiefs are defying SNP ministers and trying to force councils to shut schools early for Christmas.
The move by the Educational Institute of Scotland came after John Swinney dumped plans to extend the festive break across Scotland to three weeks.
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The measure had been considered by ministers partly to stop teachers caught in school outbreaks having to isolate during the holidays.
But yesterday, the Education Secretary claimed the move would do more harm than good – sparking anger from the EIS, the country’s biggest teaching union.
And its general secretary Larry Flanagan tonight revealed local branches had now gone directly to councils – teachers’ employers – to demand the early closure on December 18, and for “remote” online learning in the final week of term.
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In total, 21 of 32 councils are due to closing on either December 22 or 23.
And Mr Flanagan said councils would be in breach of their “duty of care” if they refused to shut earlier.
He said: “Following the decision of the Scottish Government not to move nationally to remote learning in relation to the last week of term, especially where schools were open until 22/23 December, the issue is now being taken up by EIS local associations directly with individual councils, as they remain the employers and can agree such a move without Scottish Government approval.
“The EIS view is that doing so would be consistent with the council’s duty of care and that failing to do so, a breach of that same responsibility.
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