The new school year will begin in less than a month but for many parents and teachers there is a lack of clarity about what they can expect when term begins.
There is no doubt that the coronavirus emergency has delivered a massive shock to the education system, with the majority of children forced to stay at home since March.
Although parents have been home-schooling as best they can and teachers continuing to deliver lessons online, the pandemic has led to enormous disruption to the learning experience of a generation of pupils.
It may be some time before the full impact of all this is apparent in our young people, many of whom have not only missed out on face to face teaching but also the supportive aspects of a school, with its structure and activities aimed at nourishing the development of students.
There is a general acceptance that it is better for children to be at school but the overriding concern is how best to ensure their safety and the safety of staff.
Education minister Peter Weir wants to see all pupils back in school full time but the question is how that can be achieved.
It is an issue other governments are grappling with, including the Republic where education minister Norma Foley has announced a €375 million school reopening plan.
She said funding for more than 1,000 additional post-primary teachers would be made available as well as money for 120 extra counselling posts to help pupils adjust to a new environment.
Earlier this week Mr Weir told the assembly that any extra money for similar measures for schools in Northern Ireland would have to be allocated by the executive.
"I'm committed to arguing that case, albeit that there will be very many competing demands I suspect of whatever budgets are available to the executive," he said.
There is clearly a compelling case for additional resources so that schools can be made ready for what are exceptional circumstances.
The difficulty is that time is pressing with just a few weeks left until the school gates are due to reopen.
Parents and teachers will be calling on the executive to move with a sense of urgency to provide the necessary support and guidance for the new term.
