OFFICIALS are considering a `hardship' fund for substitute teachers left without work due to widespread school closures.
All schools are now officially shut for normal teaching and learning until after the summer.
Limited education supervision is being provided for children whose parents are key workers and cannot make alternative arrangements.
Some schools may remain open over the Easter break.
New Department of Education guidance has asked that where possible, schools should look after critical workers' children and vulnerable pupils throughout the Easter holidays.
They should also "consider whether weekend provision could be facilitated".
On Wednesday, there were 488 down from about 580 on Tuesday. The total number of children in schools on Wednesday also dropped form about 1,200 to 989.
During the closure period, all employees are to receive their normal pay.
This is whether they remain in the workplace, are working from home or are unable to carry on working due to circumstances beyond their control.
It has been advised that substitute teachers will also receive their normal pay "for the period of time that they have been engaged to work".
This mainly extends to those on fixed-term contracts including maternity cover.
It also includes pay for any days that are already registered on the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR) website.
Casual subs have expressed concern that they are not covered, however. This means they will receive no money for days they might have worked between now and the end of the academic year. One day's work in a school is worth a minimum of £110.71. This increases depending on experience.
NISTR is the only mechanism for engaging sub teachers in all schools. Often, principals will turn to it in `real time' to bring in last minute cover for an absent member of staff.
Some subs told The Irish News that they stood to lose out on hundreds of pounds.
INTO Northern Secretary Gerry Murphy said casual substitutes were an essential element of the teaching workforce "who are always there when needed".
"INTO and the other unions are working very hard to secure for them continued payment over this challenging period," Mr Murphy said.
"Everyone in the education sector owes our casual substitutes a debt of gratitude and INTO expects the Department of Education to honour that debt."
A spokeswoman last night said: "The department is currently considering the possibility of a hardship fund for casual substitute teachers."
Meanwhile, the Education Authority (EA) has shared contingency plans for vital counselling services for post-primary pupils.
Within schools there are many vulnerable and at-risk children. Concerns have been raised that many young people might fall through the net now schools are closed.
The EA said counselling sessions would be provided for young people via telephone or secure online video calling. These will take place at the same time and day as they would have been delivered in school.
Drop-in sessions will also be provided via telephone at the same time and day as they would have been in school.
The EA has urged pupils and parents to contact their school for further details.
