A north-east dad has pulled his two sons out of school before the end of term as official Covid-19 figures show a rise in pupils being kept at home by parents.
According to official government figures, almost every council in the north and north-east has reported an increase in pupils staying away from classrooms.
It comes as first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is “spreading exceptionally fast, much faster than anything experienced so far in the pandemic”.
The latest data for December 14 shows that across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland a total of 445 children stayed at home.
That is compared to 117 across all seven local authority when the figures were last updated by Public Health Scotland.
Only the Western Isles reported that no pupils were being kept at home by parents.
North-east dad pulls his boys out of school to avoid Covid-19 infection
Paul Collier from Aberdeenshire has decided to take his sons, aged nine and five, out of school days before the end of term next Tuesday.
He believes that it is not worth risking becoming infected with coronavirus just days before Christmas.
Mr Collier said: “We just decided to take them out. My son’s opposite primary five class were affected at Balmedie last week.
“It’s not worth a chance of any infections and even though I’m working throughout the festive period at least they’ll have a good Christmas.”
He said many other parents including his work colleagues are considering taking their own children out of school before the term officially draws to a close.
Mr Collier added: “By the look of the school bus I think lots are doing it. The school were very supportive.
“People need to think about Christmas and their families. I’m working but will find time to be with them.
“My colleagues were saying they are taking their children out today or tomorrow. It’s a bit silly being open Monday and Tuesday.”
First minister pledges to keep schools open
Earlier this week, Nicola Sturgeon said it was a “key aim” to make sure schools stayed open to “minimise disruption” to youngsters’ learning.
The first minister said: “More generally a key aim is to ensure schools stay open where at all possible and to minimise disruption to education.
“However, it is vital that schools are safe for pupils and for staff.
“To help achieve this we continue to ask all secondary school pupils and all staff to take lateral flow tests regularly, including during holidays and before returning.
“In addition, the advisory sub group on education is meeting to provide further advice on how schools can operate safely in the new year.”
Ms Sturgeon said that the new guidance would be sent out to schools by the end of this week.
More from the Schools and Family team
‘Oh yes it is!’ Eden Court streams Christmas show to Highland schools
School’s spirit lives on: Demolition of old Inverurie Academy nears completion
Watch: Lochside Academy perform Elton John’s Step Into Christmas