Northern Ireland

Teachers gearing up for prolonged school lockdown

Mainstream schools are closed to most pupils until at least the half-term break
Mainstream schools are closed to most pupils until at least the half-term break Mainstream schools are closed to most pupils until at least the half-term break

TEACHERS are preparing for a prolonged period of remote learning amid speculation schools could remain closed until after Easter.

Health and education officials are continuing to discuss the date children should return.

The wider lockdown has been extended until March 5 with restrictions likely to remain in place beyond that date.

It is planned that face-to-face learning will resume after half-term - from February 22 - although this is now under review.

There are suggestions that children will be asked to stay home for much longer.

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

Special schools remain open.

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

Unions have demanded that all education staff be prioritised for the coronavirus vaccine to help get children back to school.

Such a move, they argue, is essential both to help protect teachers and pupils and minimise further disruption to education.

Mr Weir has now said he is asking that Covid-19 vaccines be prioritised for classroom staff and that those in special schools be vaccinated first.

Justin McCamphill, the NASUWT National Official for Northern Ireland, said no one could be surprised that the executive had extended the lockdown.

He added that many teachers and parents were puzzled that a decision on schools had been deferred.

"The situation remains grave with the health service continuing to come under immense strain and infection levels across the community still running at high levels," he said.

"In these circumstances it is entirely right for schools to remain closed to the majority of pupils and the only sensible choice at this time to protect public health. It is vital that in reviewing the closure of schools that the executive continues to be guided by the medical and scientific evidence.

"We all want all pupils to be able to return to their schools as soon as possible, but the priority must remain the safety, health and welfare of children, young people and school staff. Any decision to reopen schools must also be accompanied by additional safety mitigations and measures for schools so that further disruption to pupils' education is minimised."

Such measures, he added, must include effective arrangements for the mass testing of pupils, provisions to support social distancing and mandatory wearing of face coverings.

In the Republic, in-person special education had been due to resume on Thursday.

However, the government abandoned this in the face of union opposition.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry warned that the country needed to reach a much lower level of transmission before staff and pupils began mixing in schools again.

In England, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he hopes schools can fully reopen before Easter.

"Any decision to open schools to all children is based on the best health advice and the best scientific advice," he said.