Northern Ireland

School reopening date to be reviewed further

Education and health officials will meet this week to decide whether the extended lockdown should also apply to schools
Education and health officials will meet this week to decide whether the extended lockdown should also apply to schools Education and health officials will meet this week to decide whether the extended lockdown should also apply to schools

EDUCATION and health officials will meet this week to decide whether the extended lockdown should also apply to schools.

Only vulnerable pupils and children of key workers are attending mainstream schools at present with all others learning remotely from home.

Special schools remain open.

The plan was to resume face-to-face learning after the half-term break - from February 22 - although this is being kept under review.

Education Minister Peter Weir is due to bring a detailed paper on the issue to the executive next week.

First Minister Arlene Foster said today that it was an ongoing issue.

"Special schools continue to operate and, indeed, for people who are key workers, they can also avail of school for their children. We need to review all of that," Mrs Foster said.

"We all will take into consideration where the public health is at any point in time and, therefore, the education minister and the health minister will be meeting over the next couple of days to look at that.

"Schools are in remote learning until mid-term, so there is clarity on that for parents. We will want to give clarity to parents and schools in a timely fashion."

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill added that parents and teaching staff deserved clarity as quickly as possible.

"I'm glad that over the next number of days both health and education will meet and hope that at some stage in the early part of next week that there can be clarity given," she said.

Read more: Lockdown extended until March 5