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Discussions between the education minister and unions representing teachers, along with other partners in education, will take place before Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
These discussions are aimed at finding a consensual way to reopen schools in the coming period.
The matter will also be discussed at the government’s influential Covid-19 Committee on Monday.
Previously, the Taoiseach said schools would likely reopen gradually, but not all students would return to school on March 17.
Some in the government have suggested that this could begin with school-based education for those with special needs, followed by the return of Leaving Certificate students.
Then the elementary schools would return and the rest of the high school students would go back to school soon after.
However, high-level sources have insisted tonight that detailed or finalized plans have not yet been drawn up.
There is also a renewed sense of optimism in political circles about the reopening of schools in early March in the wake of tonight’s drop in Covid-19 cases.
However, a decision on the type of abandonment certificate that will take place this year is expected to be made by the end of next week.
Schools will not fully reopen for St. Patrick’s Day – Taoiseach
Elementary and secondary schools have not reopened since the Christmas holidays due to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
Speaking about RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor program, Micheál Martin said that due to the large number of students “we are going to have to look at it differently.”
He said there would be “no big bang approach due to transmissibility” of the virus.
Mr. Martin reiterated that the Government’s priority was to get children with special needs back to school.
However, he said that the number of Covid-19 cases would have to be overridden for students to return to classroom education.
“They have to be somewhere similar to where they were. I don’t want to be specific about the actual numbers,” he said.
He said that while schools are safe, the problem is mobilization around them.
“Because of where we are now in terms of a pandemic, the idea of mobilizing a million people was the main reason for not opening them.”
Read more: Schools seek ‘action, not sound bites’ from the Department
We could be seeing “a more gradual reopening of schools over the next time,” the Taoiseach has said.
He added that ‘in the first instance our priority will be children with special needs’ | Read more: https://t.co/feJ1np3tU8 pic.twitter.com/SBUijTGjiS
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 23, 2021
He said the first priority is special education, which he hinted could happen in February.
Yesterday, Education Minister Norma Foley said that unions and her Department are doing everything possible to work collaboratively with unions and representative groups in schools.
He said an “intensive engagement” is underway and it is still his priority to reopen special education before the general schools reopen.
This morning the Taoiseach said there was a failure in how the reopening of schools for students with additional needs has been handled, but said “the unions acted in good faith.”
The decision on what type of exit certificate will take place this year is expected to be made by the end of next week. @rtenews
– Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) January 23, 2021
Martin said there is a “shared determination” to do something for families with children with special needs.
“I would like to think that in the next few weeks there will be some movement.”
A decision will be made on the release of the certificate in a short time. “There are a variety of options that need to be examined,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Central Executive Council of the Irish Secondary Teachers Association has heard that there is a “high level of concern” among teachers about the reopening of schools and the uncertainty surrounding the Leaving Cert.
The union has asked for clarification on “contingency measures for the evaluation and examination components for the exit certificate.”
ASTI President Ann Piggott said: “We will consult with our members and demand that appropriate steps be taken to ensure that there is a safe reopening of schools.”
ASTI has said that members should be surveyed about their views on reopening schools.
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