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Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said that he understands that all primary school students will return to the classroom by March 15.
But he said high school students who do not obtain the completion certificate are likely to wait until after Easter to return to school under the government’s latest plans to reopen the education sector.
Students in grades three through six in elementary school can return on March 15, while Leaving Cert students and students in elementary school through grade two are scheduled to return to classrooms on March 1.
Minister O’Gorman, while speaking with Philip Boucher Hayes on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio, said elementary schools are likely to return in two phases with freshmen, seniors, first and second class students. to return with those who have the exit certificate Monday, March 1.
He said his understanding after the “engagement to Minister Foley” was that the second cohort of primary school students, third through sixth class, would return two weeks after the first phase on March 15.
Mr. O’Gorman said the “focus” in the first four weeks of school in March was undergraduate and elementary students, “to see during those four weeks how this affects” the overall situation.
“As things stand today, most high school kids will probably go back to education after the Easter break,” the minister said.
The schools Easter break will end on April 12.
Minister O’Gorman said final decisions will be made in cabinet next Tuesday.
“We are aware that we need to balance the gradual reopening and the gradual increase of the movement with getting the children back into the routine and having the supports in place,” said Minister O’Gorman.
“All this depends on the continuous advice of Nphet”, insisted the minister.
Earlier this week, Education Minister Norma Foley announced plans for a dual Leaving Cert process where students could take a written exam or receive a calculated grade.
Unlike last year’s calculated scores, this year will be accredited by the State Testing Commission and students will not be able to challenge them.
The Junior Cert exam was also canceled under these plans.
Online editors
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