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The decision to reopen kindergartens and kindergartens next week despite keeping the schools closed “begs belief” and “is unfounded”, said representatives of the sector.
On Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that elementary and middle schools would remain closed until January 11, and were expected to reopen on January 4 or 6, depending on the school.
The decision to delay the reopening was made at a hastily convened cabinet meeting on Wednesday following an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the highest number of hospitalizations since May, and a massive increase in referrals of suspected cases in the last week.
However, the delay in reopening does not apply to early childhood facilities, such as nurseries and nurseries, a move that has been criticized by those in the industry.
The Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, had a meeting with representative bodies on Thursday afternoon to discuss the issue.
Teresa Heeney, executive director of Early Childhood Ireland, the leading organization in the early childhood sector, said the meeting resulted in a “unanimous call” from all groups to understand the rationale for the decision.
The members also called for the decision to be reversed and for kindergartens and nurseries to be allowed to remain closed until January 11, like schools.
“This sector has followed exactly the same trajectory, the same conditions, the same public health councils since Covid. We have followed very, very strict public health guidelines, and changing that trip is strange, “said Ms. Heeney.
“If it has been deemed necessary for schools to have 10 days to reopen safely, how can it be different for the early years and services for school-age children? Early Childhood Ireland wonders why the same decision has not been made for those working in early childhood and child care settings. “
Ms. Heeney said Minister O’Gorman confirmed that if a different decision is made on January 11 regarding the reopening of schools, early childhood education services would follow that same decision.
Representatives said they expect a communication from the department later Thursday.
Equal treatment
Earlier, the Siptu union, which also met with the minister, called for equal treatment for all educators.
An online petition asking the minister to delay the reopening date for the sector from the early years had more than 8,000 signatures by Thursday lunchtime.
Siptu organizing chief Darragh O’Connor said Martin told the nation that the reopening of elementary and secondary schools will be delayed to allow families to minimize their contacts and allow schools to implement new Covid protection measures. -19.
“The reality is that early childhood educators and parents face exactly the same challenges. However, as it is, it is expected that the sector of the first years will reopen from Monday, January 4 ”.
He added: “Siptu requires that the start date be delayed to coincide with the reopening of schools and that early childhood educators be treated equally to ensure the same protections can be put in place and that people are kept safe. “.
Clare Casey, an early childhood educator and member of Siptu, said that people who work in the sector “should be treated with the same respect that other educators are shown.”
“As an educator, I experience the same fears about contracting Covid-19 as my colleagues in elementary and middle schools and just because I work in daycare does not mean that I am immune from contracting this deadly virus.”
A spokeswoman for the Children’s Department confirmed that Minister O’Gorman met with representatives of the sector to discuss this matter.
“The Minister is committed to considering your concerns and will update early learning and child care providers and parents after further consultation,” he said.
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