<p><strong>Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson</strong> has denied allegations that his government mishandled plans for school closures during the <strong>COVID-19 pandemic</strong>, asserting that officials acted on the best advice available at the time. Appearing before the <strong>UK COVID-19 Inquiry</strong> in London, Johnson acknowledged that the pandemic response was not flawless but insisted that decisions were made with the intent of minimizing harm to children and families.</p>

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<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe we failed to plan,&rdquo; Johnson stated. &ldquo;We faced an unprecedented emergency that required rapid action. Our goal was to protect lives while keeping education accessible to as many children as possible.&rdquo;</p>
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<p>Johnson&rsquo;s testimony came as part of the inquiry into the UK&rsquo;s pandemic response, which has examined how government decisions impacted education, healthcare, and economic stability between 2020 and 2022.</p>

<h3><strong>Defending His Government&rsquo;s Record</strong></h3>

<p>The former prime minister emphasized that the decision to close schools was <strong>&ldquo;agonizing but necessary&rdquo;</strong>, describing it as one of the most difficult moments of his tenure. He argued that the government had no modern precedent to follow, and that balancing public health with children&rsquo;s education posed immense challenges.</p>

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<p>&ldquo;There were no easy choices. We did everything possible to keep schools open safely, but we had to respond to a rapidly evolving virus,&rdquo; Johnson added.</p>
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<p>Johnson also highlighted the introduction of <strong>remote learning initiatives</strong>, government funding for <strong>laptops and internet access</strong>, and emergency support for teachers adapting to virtual classrooms. However, critics and former education officials claim that the government&rsquo;s planning was <strong>reactive rather than proactive</strong>, leading to significant learning loss and widening inequalities among students.</p>

<h3><strong>Apology for Mistakes</strong></h3>

<p>While rejecting accusations of neglect, Johnson did express <strong>regret</strong> for some decisions made under pressure.</p>

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<p>&ldquo;I am deeply sorry for the pain and disruption families faced,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We made mistakes &mdash; as any government would in such circumstances &mdash; but we acted in good faith, guided by scientific advice.&rdquo;</p>
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<p>His remarks follow earlier testimony from senior health and education officials who described confusion and inconsistent communication within Downing Street during the early months of the pandemic.</p>

<h3><strong>Political Reactions</strong></h3>

<p>Opposition leaders and teaching unions were quick to respond to Johnson&rsquo;s comments. Labour&rsquo;s Shadow Education Secretary accused him of <strong>&ldquo;rewriting history&rdquo;</strong>, arguing that the government ignored early warnings from education experts about the long-term impact of closures.</p>

<p>The <strong>National Education Union (NEU)</strong> also reiterated that teachers were left without clear direction or adequate safety measures, especially during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.</p>

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<p>&ldquo;We warned repeatedly that ad hoc decision-making would harm children&rsquo;s learning. The government&rsquo;s lack of foresight cost precious months of education,&rdquo; the NEU said in a statement.</p>
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<h3><strong>Inquiry Continues</strong></h3>

<p>The ongoing inquiry has been described as one of the most comprehensive public investigations in modern UK history, with testimonies from ministers, scientists, and education leaders. Findings are expected to shape future pandemic preparedness and school emergency protocols.</p>

<p>Johnson&rsquo;s appearance marks a pivotal moment in assessing how political leadership shaped the UK&rsquo;s pandemic experience &mdash; from lockdown timing to communication strategies. As the hearings progress, public scrutiny remains high, particularly over whether lessons from the crisis have been adequately learned.</p>