School return delayed by week in NI

Home schooling will be delivered across Northern Ireland in the first week of the new term, according to the Education Minister.

The announcement by Peter Weir was made after mounting pressure amid spiralling Covid infection rates.

On Wednesday, 2143 cases were reported in a 24-hour period, the highest since the pandemic began.

The Stormont Assembly had already been recalled for a hearing on Thursday to discuss the schools issue.

The new measures will affect both primary and secondary school pupils, while years eight to 11 will continue remote learning throughout January.

Schools will open next week to accommodate vulnerable children and those of key workers.

Childcare settings, including those attached to schools, pre-school facilities, nurseries and special schools, will also open as usual next week.

Mr Weir said exams due in January would take place, compliant with public health advice.

He said schools would have flexibility to deliver face-to-face learning for pupils due to sit those exams if they wished.

"The Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Education Authority and the Public Health Agency have worked closely throughout the pandemic to maintain the education of children, to reduce the risk of outbreaks and to respond when these occur,'' he said.

"This work has continued in recent weeks and the proposed way forward has been informed by the evidence and the advice provided.

"The common aim has been to keep schools safe, prioritise children's education and ensure any impact on overall transmission is as low as possible, while accepting that schools reopening as normal is not sustainable.''

Mr Weir continued: "While previous arrangements have been informed by the advice of the Department of Health, unfortunately the deteriorating nature of the epidemic and the risks to public health has necessitated more substantial changes.

"Therefore, having considered the advice from the chief medical officer (Dr Michael McBride) and the chief scientific adviser (Professor Ian Young), and following discussions with them, I have decided that all primary and post-primary pupils will be taught remotely for the first week of term. Special schools and childcare provision will, however, remain open.

"All schools must provide supervised learning for vulnerable children and key workers' children.

"I must stress that these decisions are not made lightly as I know the negative impact on children's learning and mental health and wellbeing of not being in school.

"However, particularly after unprecedented levels of positive Covid-19 tests since Christmas, and the pressure this applies to our health service, it is critical that we all must consider the public health and scientific advice as we look forward to brighter days ahead."