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Many high school students may have to wait until April 12 before returning to the classroom according to the school reopening plans related to the Covid-19 pandemic that are being discussed by school staff unions and the government.
Unions are expected to finalize a back-to-school plan with Department of Education officials on Monday before a formal announcement is made after a cabinet meeting the following day.
According to preliminary plans, primary schools would reopen from March 1 at the earliest, for early childhood, senior citizens, first and second class.
At the second level, Leaving Cert students would have priority to return on the same date.
The rest of the elementary school classes are expected to return a few weeks later. However, the pace of this return will be subject to the guidance of public health authorities.
At the second level, it is understood that the unions are discussing the return of the third and fifth years in a few weeks, followed by the rest of the classes.
However, given that schools close for the Easter break on March 26, it seems likely that many of these students will not return until April 12.
The president of the National Association of Principals and Assistant Principals (NAPD) said routine Covid-19 testing of teachers and students should be considered on an ongoing basis to ensure schools remain open.
Michael Cregan said: “The health and safety of staff and students should never be compromised. We must seriously consider such a measure to ensure that schools remain safe and that we keep Covid in check. “
Special needs
Furthermore, thousands of students with special or additional needs must return to ordinary elementary and secondary schools on Monday.
It will be the first time since before Christmas that these schools are open to students.
Special schools opened earlier this month with 50 percent attendance, resulting in children with more complex needs attending school two to three days a week.
Under a school reopening framework that is being discussed with unions, parents will be asked to sign declaration forms stating that they have no reason to believe their child has an infectious disease like Covid-19.
This is one of the new security measures contained in a preliminary framework for the reopening of schools in light of the increased threat of infection posed by the new UK variant.
Parents will also be urged to avoid congregating outside of schools, while public health physicians will provide a series of videos online asking parents to “deviate as a precaution” by keeping symptomatic children at home.
In the new guide, schools will be advised to keep windows fully open during breaks and at the end of the school day, and partially open when classrooms are in use.
Meanwhile, the secondary teacher unions will meet this week to discuss plans for the Leaving Cert.
The cooperation of both the Teachers’ Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland will be crucial.
ASTI is surveying members as to whether they “are willing to participate in an accredited rating system as announced by the Minister.”
Meanwhile, the NAPD president asked the Department of Education to provide urgent guidance to schools on oral exams and other assessment elements.
Oral exams will be completed in high schools over Easter break and possibly beyond.
Mr. Cregan said schools lacked guidance on which teachers can be hired to facilitate these oral exams.
He said more details are needed on how students will be assessed for “credited grades” this year.
All high schools must close one week prior to May 28 to allow teachers and principals to complete the grading process.
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