A lack of advice for schools amid the coronavirus pandemic is creating “chaos and confusion” and placing “intolerable pressure” on staff, a teachers’ union has warned.
The NASUWT, which represents teachers and head teachers, said there was a “rising sense of panic” as it called for a definitive decision on how to protect staff and pupils.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19 on Monday.
Although he added that the measures will remain under review, the union criticised Mr Johnson for failing to give “clear and definitive directions” to schools.
In a statement on Tuesday, NASUWT acting general secretary Chris Keates said: “All of the announcements continue to be couched as guidance or advice, which is simply serving to increase anxiety and uncertainty.
“The NASUWT has to date been advising our members in the context of the advice issued by governments and administrations and public health bodies across the UK.
“However, the lack of clear information with regard to the steps to protect teachers, head teachers and other staff working in schools in the context of commentators constantly referring to the threats posed by children carrying Covid-19 is causing chaos and confusion and placing intolerable pressure on all staff in schools and their families.”
It added: “The NASUWT has consistently raised a series of concerns with ministers since this national crisis began to unfold and whilst we have sought not to second-guess the science and medical advice and worked to support members in the increasingly difficult situation, the lack of specific information for schools understandably has created a rising sense of panic.”
Schools are struggling with diminishing staff levels, according to the union, while changes to staff working conditions have the potential to compromise health and safety for both staff and pupils.
“This situation cannot be allowed to continue,” Ms Keates said.
“The UK Government working with governments and administrations across the UK must now make a definitive decision about the steps being taken to protect the school workforce and the closure of schools.”
TWO primary-age children are said to be among the latest to be diagnosed with coronavirus - yet schools are to remain open.
An ever-increasing number of schools are taking individual decisions to shut - some for the rest of the month.
All 10 special schools in Belfast have closed indefinitely.
Education minister Peter Weir yesterday told the assembly that there would be no blanket closure unless expert scientific advice changed.
Mr Weir said that teaching and learning would continue no matter what - there would be no extended holiday.
St Pius X College in Magherafelt, St Mary's PS in Pomeroy and Sion Mills PS were among the latest to announce closures ranging from one day to two weeks.
All west Belfast primary and nursery schools will close from Wednesday to Friday this week. Those that opened on Monday said attendance was paltry.
St Dominic's High in west Belfast will also stayed closed until the end of the week to facilitate a "deep clean" after it was confirmed one of its pupils had the virus.
It was reported that two pupils at St Patrick's PS in Legamaddy had been diagnosed with the virus.
On Sunday, principal Sarah McDowell wrote to parents to "raise awareness of the possibility of community transfer of Covid-19".
It is understood a parent informed the school that two children from the same family had been diagnosed by an out-of-hours doctor.
In a second letter issued yesterday, Ms McDowell said after taking advice from the Public Health Agency, that the school would remain open and "only pupils with symptoms should self-isolate".
"We made the decision to take a staff day whilst we awaited this information and to ensure we were following the correct procedure. Therefore, we will be open as usual on Wednesday, although all after school clubs including homework club will be postponed until further notice," she wrote.
St Ronan's PS in Newry told pupils to stay at home for the rest of the week.
"We are now in the position that school principals are being forced to take decisions on the grounds of health and safety because of conflicting scientific advice," principal Kevin Donaghy said.
"We are waiting for decisive, honest, unambiguous leadership and not just a `wait and see' approach. An issue like this has never happened in many of our lifetimes."
INTO northern secretary Gerry Murphy said concerned parents were acting with their feet and taking their children out of school.
"Parents are concerned for their safety and that of other family members with underlying medical conditions," he said.
"Conflicting medical advice in the different jurisdictions is adding to their frustration. A virus cannot be constrained by a border and we need joined-up, all-island thinking to respond to this crisis."
Mr Weir yesterday issued new Covid-19 guidance to all educational settings.
"I fully understand the concerns of schools and parents and want to assure everyone that the Department of Education is working intensively with its education sector partners and with colleagues across the UK as well as the Department of Health, the Public Health Agency on a full range of very complex issues with regard to Covid-19," he said.
"The department has also instigated a range of contingency planning measures, including the establishment of a Covid-19 Education Planning Group to co-ordinate efforts across the education sector.
"I want to make clear that any decision to close schools and other educational settings will be backed up by expert, clear and unambiguous advice and guidance provided to me by the chief medical officer, the Public Health Agency and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies."
Meanwhile, the EA has postponed events and training with immediate effect while Queen's University Belfast plans to deliver all lecture material remotely and cease face-to-face lectures.
