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Third-level students should consider not going home on weekends during the academic term to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the CAO board chairman said.
The suggestion has been questioned by the Students’ Union of Ireland (USI), which said that visiting family is important for the mental health of young people.
CAO Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh said he acknowledged that many students participated in local sports clubs and had part-time jobs on weekends to help fund their studies, but “in an ideal world,” students should consider staying in your university accommodation for the semester and come home “only occasionally”.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, she added that commuting between counties on a weekly basis is “very different” from going to school or going to and from work.
“Students go weekly, they will meet others from all over the country and then they will return to their communities of origin and that is a potential spreader, there is no doubt about that, for all universities, for all universities in the country, so I think it would be very important for students, if possible, to stay on campus, at the university, in the university environment, for most of the semester, ”he added.
Professor Ó Dochartaigh, who is also the vice president of NUI Galway, said he understood that this would be “a difficult question”, especially for the early years.
“We are not telling people that it is absolutely necessary to do this, whatever happens, but I think when someone can reasonably do that and deal with it, I think they should seriously consider it,” he added.
‘Very unfair’
USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick said this suggestion was “very unfair” and “does not align with any of the other messages we receive from the government.”
“It puzzles me that people are encouraged to take vacations, eat at restaurants and cafes, but now students are being told that they cannot see their families,” said Ms. Fitzpatrick. “These comments are extremely concerning. It is not a public health council. It is important that the Minister clarifies this as soon as possible ”.
Third-tier industry sources believe that this move would not need to be implemented as the academic term is carried out primarily online in many higher education facilities.
Sources believe that with some online lectures, under a system known as hybrid or blended learning, many students will choose to stay at home for the year, rather than opt for the university accommodation option.
A spokeswoman for Trinity College Dublin said the proposal is not something that has been considered at the university, while a DCU spokeswoman said it is offering “flexible accommodation on campus” as it is “highly unlikely” that any student have to. on campus more than a small number of days a week.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has been contacted for comment.
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