NI Executive sticks to original plan of phased return to schools

Stormont Ministers are staying firm on the return to school plan announced this day last week.

First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill addressed the media on the Hill of the O'Neill in Dungannon this afternoon, following more executive crunch talks.

Executive Ministers discussed the roadmap to recovery for Northern Ireland, which, although due on MOnday March 1, is now touted to be unveiled on Tuesday instead.

It comes after a week of arguments over whether or not to follow Boris Johnson's latest move, and bring all students back on March 8.

Just last week the Executive announced a staggered return to face-to-face learning here in Northern Ireland. Pre-school, nursery and primary school pupils in P1 to P3 would return on March 8th.

The only minor change which could be in the pipeline, the FM and DFM said, was that health experts are looking into how to prevent that age group from reverting to online learning from March 22 until after the Easter holidays.

Meanwhile students in years 12 to 14, who will be awarded qualifications this summer will still return to school on March 22.

Strategic Priorities Are Unchanged

First Minister Arlene Foster said: “We’ve often said there is a role for the kitchen table in every child’s education, but it will never be a substitute for the school desk."

"Ministers and executive specialist advisors all agree that school is beneficial from an educational perspective, and for children’s physical and mental health. The risk to children from covid is exceptionally small, so the Executive will keep all of these issues under continuous review.”

“There’s been a lot of talk this week about me saying that I said I thought we needed to re-visit schools, we said we would constantly review what was happening in schools. Why? Because schools are a priority, children are a priority and the Chief Medical Officer was very clear with us today that this is about a balance of harm.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill added: "I think it’s right and appropriate that the Executive’s priority is to get children back into school safely, but that’s the very point it has to be safe, and it has to be sustainable. We don’t want an on-off switch, I think it’s really important to give that clarity and certainty.”

Health Minister Robin Swann and the other executive parties defended the phased return, calling it "responsible."

Read more:

Phased return to the classroom begins this March

Army medics to be withdrawn from NI this week

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