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As the country moves to level five restrictions, education unions have warned that the safe reopening of schools after the midterm recess will depend on improvements in contact tracing and security measures.
Yesterday, the teachers’ unions and Fórsa, which represents 15,000 non-teaching staff members, including special needs aides (SNA), met with representatives of the National Public Health Emergency Team to discuss their concerns.
Current arrangements for schools have not been enough to keep up with the increase in cases, according to Fórsa.
This means that some schools have “left it to themselves” without HSE intervention, leading to decisions to send year-long groups home or close schools altogether.
The current provisions in place under level five restrictions are “insufficient,” according to Fórsa education director Andy Pike.
“If schools are to remain open below level five, the government must maintain trust and honor its end of the bargain by doing everything possible to keep staff safe,” he said.
The National Organization of Teachers of Ireland has also called for the urgent publication of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in schools, as well as a clear explanation of the difference between close and casual contact in the school setting.
The union has also called for an urgent review of the policy on the use of face covers by students and school personnel, more protective measures for elementary and special schools in light of level five restrictions and a health decision. evidence-based publicity in schools.
INTO Secretary General John Boyle said: “The successful reopening of schools on November 2 will depend on the preventive and protective measures that the Government implements in the interim.”
INTO requests data on the incidence of Covid-19 in schools https://t.co/Br1dALQf6s through @rte
– John Boyle (@johnboyle_INTO) October 19, 2020
The Secretary General of the Irish Secondary Teachers Association, Kieran Christie, said: “The subject of contact tracing is coming up a lot and it was discouraging to be admitted that contact tracing is not as efficient as it should be.”
“When schools reopened in August, the numbers were much lower than they are now. It requires a review of whether they are still suitable for where we are at the moment. ”
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has also requested an audit to ensure that schools have the necessary resources to ensure full compliance with public health councils.
Dedicated public health teams will be established in each HSE area to assist schools when a positive case of Covid-19 is identified, according to Education Minister Norma Foley.
“I recognize that there will always be concerns,” he told RTÉ Radio.
“When schools closed in March, there were concerns that we might ever be able to reopen schools successfully. But thanks to everyone’s efforts, there has been a very safe and successful return to opening schools. “
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