Northern Ireland

North, Britain and Republic to approach school reopenings differently

The Republic's Education Minster Joe McHugh says work has begun in relation to a September return for schools
The Republic's Education Minster Joe McHugh says work has begun in relation to a September return for schools The Republic's Education Minster Joe McHugh says work has begun in relation to a September return for schools

THE north is expected to deviate from other UK regions by working towards a Sepetmber date for school reopenings.

Some European countries including Denmark have already begun phased returns.

Their approach to ending the educational lockdown is being closely observed as other countries debate similar measures.

Different academic term times in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic means there can be different approaches.

The Department of Education said schools in the north “will reopen when it is safe to do so”.

It will be an executive decision based on expert scientific and public health advice.

Summer holidays are due to begin on July 1 in Northern Ireland, meaning any return before then is unlikely.

A proposed June 1 return for England would work better there as its pupils do not break up for summer until July 22.

In Wales, summer holidays start on July 20.

Education minister Kirsty Williams said schools in Wales would not reopen on June 1, however.

First minister Mark Drakeford has also ruled out following the same timetable as England.

"We're not going to be reopening schools in Wales in the next three weeks, or indeed in June," he said.

Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has warned that schools may not return until August.

Holidays there begin in June and end in mid-August.

It has been suggested that outdoor learning could offer a template for socially distanced schooling across Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon said any return to school "might not be possible at all ahead of the summer holidays".

In the Republic, school summer holidays are not standardised and schools may use discretionary days to determine the precise start and end of the year.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh said he expected schools would be able to reopen in September.

Work has begun to ensure this can be done in a safe way.

"We are going to work towards opening the schools because the NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) is that schools will reopen in September," he told RTÉ.

"So the question now is, how can we do that in a safe way? I think it is too early to say how that will look. But that is a job we have started and we will continue to work our way through it.

"The last thing I want to do is say in the month of May what this will look like. That's why I want at the heart of this to have a proper consultation."