Northern Ireland

Pupils hit by strike 'should be taught remotely where possible', education department says

Members of the Unite union are planning to strike for almost two weeks after the Easter break. File picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker
Members of the Unite union are planning to strike for almost two weeks after the Easter break. File picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker Members of the Unite union are planning to strike for almost two weeks after the Easter break. File picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker

PUPILS unable to attend school due to strike action over the next few weeks should be taught remotely where possible, the Department of Education has said.

Members of the Unite union are planning to strike for almost two weeks after the Easter break, amid an ongoing pay dispute.

Unite said its workers have been offered a 1.75 per cent pay increase, even though inflation is at around nine per cent.

The action is planned from April 26 to May 1 and from May 3 to May 8.

School transport, meals and the availability of classroom assistants will be affected by the strike.

The department has told schools they should continue to provide face-to-face teaching.

It also said the vast majority of parents will be able to make alternative transport plans.

However, it added that not all pupils may be able to get to school, "including some of our most vulnerable children and young people".

"We would, therefore, strongly encourage schools wherever possible to provide remote learning materials to individual pupils unable to access school due to transport disruption," it said.

The department said special schools are likely to face "unique challenges during this period given the level of classroom assistants within school and the high level of transport provision engaged for their pupils".

"We appreciate that for some special schools, a move towards remote learning for individual pupils, classes and schools will have to be considered on a localised basis," it said.

Dr Graham Gault, of the National Association of Head Teachers (NI), has urged employers to resolve the pay dispute.

"In seeking to manage learning and teaching in schools, we have learned, through our recent pandemic experiences, that teachers cannot be reasonably expected to teach both in class and remotely at the same time," he said.

"This will mean that there will inevitably be disruption in provision for those young people who are unable to get to school."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the pay offer is "completely unacceptable".

"All workers have a right to expect pay to keep pace with inflationary pressures and it’s appalling that public sector workers face a choice of heating or eating," she said.