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Unions representing school personnel have raised concerns about plans to keep schools open for students with special needs and Leaving Cert.
The Cabinet has been examining plans to keep high schools open three days a week for up to 60,000 Leaving Cert students. In addition, special schools and special classes are planned for some 15,000 pupils.
However, some unions say they have strong reservations about the health implications for their members.
Andy Pike, education director for the Fórsa union, which represents thousands of special needs attendees, said that reopening schools and special classes as usual “presents challenges that simply cannot be solved.”
It said its members’ comments indicated that “many will not be able to attend work due to lack of childcare and valid safety concerns.”
Mr. Pike added that limited service could be provided through “structured remote supports” or a program that resembles summer support programs.
Ann Pigott, president of the Irish Secondary Teachers Association, said the union has not been consulted on plans to keep secondary schools open for Leaving Cert students. He said such a move seemed “very unusual” at this stage and that the union wanted the numbers to rise and fall before schools reopened.
Members are very concerned about the increase in cases, new variants of Covid-19, and their possible impact on school settings.
The National Organization of Teachers of Ireland has insisted that any decision taken by the government regarding the reopening of schools must be backed by the most up-to-date public health councils.
Young children giving positive
The union represents many teachers with special needs who may have to return to the classroom according to plans the government is examining.
John Boyle, INTO’s general secretary, said the union had concerns about the number of young children who tested positive for Covid-19 in the past two weeks.
He said a comprehensive analysis of these figures is needed for new variants of the virus.
“While our members want to be in school teaching their students, the scale of the challenge we now face warrants these additional steps and I have every faith that Ireland’s primary and special school teachers will rise again. of the challenge, ”he said.
“When our schools reopen, it is imperative that teachers are higher on the priority list for access to the vaccine and we should see serial testing in our schools.”
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