CLOSING schools has always been regarded as a last resort when restrictions are being considered to stem the spread of coronavirus infections.
While many businesses can operate effectively remotely, and lost income can be compensated, time spent out of the classroom inevitably impacts on learning as well as the important social connections formed in a nurturing educational environment.
Schools have unfortunately been forced to shut their doors several times during the course of the Covid pandemic, including a hugely disruptive period of months at the start of this year.
The long-term damage will take time to fully assess, and is likely to have disproportionately affected children from disadvantaged families.
Schools have thankfully been able to operate with minimal restrictions since the start of the current academic year, but with cases soaring again in the community the strains are inevitably showing.
More than 1,000 school staff have contracted Covid in recent weeks and many more have had to isolate because of close contacts or to care for affected family members.
Principals have experienced huge difficulties finding cover, in some cases telling how they have contacted up to 100 substitute teachers without success.
Disruption to teaching, learning and other activities has been unavoidable. A survey this week revealed that one in five schools have been forced to close a class since half-term, while one in 10 principals have had to close the whole school.
With the situation only likely to worsen in the coming weeks, one union has suggested schools should close early for Christmas as a circuit breaker.
The Department of Education has said any closure across the board would be a matter for the executive but it acknowledges that individual schools may need to consider short periods of remote learning.
Where pupils are asked to remain at home because of staff shortages, it is vital that adequate support is put in place for schools and parents.
The department should also look to the success of a workforce appeal launched by health chiefs last year which saw many staff who had recently retired or were otherwise outside the system return to help protect services.
Our society already owes a huge debt to all school staff for their enormous efforts to protect children's education in hugely challenging circumstances over the last 20 months.
They deserve every support now to get through the current pressures with as little disruption to schools and children's education as possible.
