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Almost 3,000 high school students appear ready to return to their classrooms on Monday, February 22, after an agreement was reached between the teachers’ unions and SNA and the Department of Education.
Returning students are those with additional educational needs who attend special classes.
The Teachers ‘Union of Ireland, ASTI and Fórsa signed the agreement at their leaders’ meetings today and tonight.
It means that 2,808 second-level students will be able to go back to teaching at the school starting next Monday week.
Students attend 515 second-level special classes led by 1,739 special needs teachers and aides.
Special classes for children in elementary schools will also reopen on February 22, while special schools will reopen tomorrow.
In a statement, TUI said it recognizes the vital importance of face-to-face provision for these students.
The union said several concerns it had raised have now been addressed.
It said its Executive Committee had also unanimously decided to facilitate the return of Leaving Certificate students sometime in the same week, subject to public health advice.
The special schools will reopen tomorrow morning, initially to take the children back every other day half to half. This is to allow for greater social distancing.
In a statement, the Department of Education said it had implemented a supplemental program to support the education and / or care needs of students with complex needs at the post-primary level.
“Intensive engagement with education stakeholders continues, toward a full return of all students to face-to-face teaching and learning in elementary and post-primary schools as soon as possible and when safe to do so,” the statement added. .
ASTI said it has secured a series of measures to support the return of special education classes and that it will oversee the implementation of these new measures in the coming weeks.
“However, the Standing Committee is of the opinion that the government’s Framework Plan is inadequate and needs to be substantially reworked to ensure a gradual and safe return of all students in the next period of time,” the union said in a statement tonight.
“ASTI continues to collaborate with the Department of Education in the safe reopening of schools for other cohorts of students,” he added.
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