Northern Ireland

Decision to open or close school on day of forthcoming teacher strike down to principals

The decision to open or close a school on day of a forthcoming teacher strike has been left with principals
The decision to open or close a school on day of a forthcoming teacher strike has been left with principals The decision to open or close a school on day of a forthcoming teacher strike has been left with principals

THE decision to open or close a school on the day teachers are due to strike later this month has been left to principals, education authorities have said.

A letter sent to school heads by the education management bodies also advises principals to organise remote learning for pupils.

Teachers who are members of the NASUWT, INTO and UTU are due to hold a half day strike on February 21.

The action, which has been sparked by pay deal issues, will take place from midnight on Monday February 20 until noon the next day.

Sara Long, chief executive of the Education Authority (EA), has written to principals about arrangements for the day of the strike.

In the letter, which was sent on behalf of the EA, Department of Education, and Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, she wrote: "Given the large numbers of teachers who are members of the trade unions that are taking action, it is anticipated that this will cause significant disruption".

Ms Long also advised principals to carry out a risk assessment to decide what to do on the day of the strike, but to open their school all day if it is "safe" to do so.

If it is not safe due to a lack of staff, schools are to open at noon on February 21.

"If necessary as a last resort, close the school to all pupils but open for all staff not on strike for the full day and have arrangements in place, prior to half term, for pupils to engage in remote learning," she wrote.

Principals are also asked to "consider a hybrid model for the delivery of the curriculum in the afternoon if some pupils are in school but others are unable to travel to attend".