Call for Assembly to be recalled as pressure grows to postpone reopening of schools

The SDLP is seeking a recall of the Assembly to discuss “serious concern” about the reopening of schools next week.
Schools are set to reopen from January 4, with some pupils moving to remote learning on January 25Schools are set to reopen from January 4, with some pupils moving to remote learning on January 25
Schools are set to reopen from January 4, with some pupils moving to remote learning on January 25

This comes after the largest trade union in the Northern Ireland health service, which also represents staff who work in schools, called for the resumption of face-to-face education to be postponed.

The regional secretary of Unison said “all of the unions involved in education” believe schools shouldn’t open.

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Patricia McKeown made her comments in a radio interview broadcast by BBC Radio Foyle.

And Unison’s head of bargaining and representation, Anne Speed, told the News Letter that a request has already been made to the Department of Education for reopening to be delayed by a week.

Before the beginning of the current lockdown period, Education Minister Peter Weir had announced a proposal for schools to reopen on schedule in January, with the introduction of remote learning for some post-primary pupils not sitting exams near the end of the month.

Under the proposals, special schools are to be exempt from the move to remote learning, Mr Weir said.

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The minister stressed that his proposal is “dependent upon the public health situation”.

A spokesperson for his department referred back to that statement when invited to outline the current position with regards to the opening of schools.

Ms McKeown said: “There’s a very clear position from all of the unions involved in education, and Unison is one of the major unions – they shouldn’t open.

“The advice to the UK government from the medical and scientific experts has been to keep schools closed. We do not understand why schools are due to open here as we have moved into lockdown.”

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Ms Speed said: “From Minister Weir’s statement on the 18th it seemed like a fait accompli, but politicans often have to make decisions when faced with the reality and we wouldn’t damn them for that.”

She told the News Letter that position had been put to officials from Mr Weir’s department in a meeting on December 22.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: “The fact that schools across the North are due to return next week is concerning.

“There has been a lack of clarity, insufficient mitigations and support to assist our pupils and teachers.”

The West Tyrone MLA added: “For weeks now, the SDLP has urged the minister to provide this support to our school leaders and he has failed to do so.”