PRINCIPALS have roundly welcomed a programme to address the impact of Covid-19 on children's education.
Up to 300 teaching posts will be created to help disadvantaged pupils catch up with learning lost during lockdown.
Education minister Peter Weir yesterday announced details of the £11.2 million Engage scheme.
Schools were closed in March and most education instead took place remotely or online.
Experts had warned that the achievement gap between 'rich and poor' children was at risk of widening.
Funding agreed by the executive in June will now enable schools to provide additional teaching support.
Through the same funding package, the Department of Education has helped schools with the purchase of online virtual learning resources for P7 children to help with literacy and numeracy skills over the next year.
While Engage will be open to all schools, there will be a particular focus on those who educate young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.
The amount of money available will vary depending on school size and the proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals.
Both literacy and numeracy support and mental health interventions will be provided. There is expected to be a degree of flexibility afforded to schools in how they can use the money.
Mr Weir said he was conscious of the anxiety caused by prolonged school closures and the potential long lasting impact in terms of pupil achievement.
"The Engage programme will provide vital assistance to schools as they seek to address the needs of our children and young people during this unique year. This funding will be used to secure additional qualified teachers, enabling schools to provide child centred one-to-one, small group or team teaching support to those pupils who stand to benefit the most," he said.
"I am hopeful of securing the additional £4.8m funding which will be needed to continue the programme until the end of the current academic year."
Principals have given their backing.
Chris Donnelly, head of St John the Baptist PS in west Belfast said: "It is essential that schools are given additional support to help kids for whom lockdown and the pandemic experience has been particularly challenging both academically and socially."
NAHT president Graham Gault said the flexibility for schools to target confidence and engagement appropriately within their own contexts was invaluable.
