Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is giving his strong backing to the Scottish Conservatives’ new “Open Our Schools” campaign.

The online campaign is designed to give support to teachers and parents who are demanding  the SNP Government improve its plans for a return to the classroom.

Mr Cameron said: “Although many local parents and teachers have been making great efforts to keep their children engaged, with some very innovative approaches being adopted, there is however huge, and deepening concern about this disruption.

“The Scottish Government needs to show it understands the damage being done and that its plans for “blended learning”, which could see youngsters in some areas attend school just once a week, is plainly inadequate.

“Even senior figures in the SNP have blasted these proposals, which could see children in Scotland falling well behind their contemporaries in the rest of the UK and Europe.

“Our campaign is designed to give concerned people the opportunity to make their views heard.”