Education minister Peter Weir blasted by teaching union for making announcement two weeks ‘too late’

Northern Ireland teachers have welcomed the delay of face to face teaching next week but say it’s two weeks too late.
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“This decision could and should have been made before schools broke for the Christmas holidays,” said Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union.

“The Minister had the opportunity to provide support, reassurance and leadership to not only our educational community but also to every parent of school age children here as we face this latest stage of the pandemic. Instead we were met with disregard and disrespect.

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“We welcome the fact that the Minister met with education unions this morning and we trust that this is indicative of his intention to engage in a meaningful fashion with the educational community moving forward as this latest decision is kept under review.

Peter Weir addressing pupilsPeter Weir addressing pupils
Peter Weir addressing pupils

“This does not change the fact that parents have once again at the eleventh hour been delivered up the added stress of changing and managing their arrangements to accommodate this decision.

“All along we’ve been told the Minister was following the science yet despite what was happening elsewhere in the UK regarding delayed school re-opening he repeatedly failed to show us the medical evidence for his insistence that a January 4 back to school date was going to work.

“The Minister instead stressed that his priority of ensuring our most vulnerable children were supported was a key reason why all pupils should go back on Monday, but this has always been the case.

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“Even with his last minute decision to delay re-opening generally, schools still remain open from January 5 for both vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

“Of course school is the best place for our pupils but not at any cost. A duty of care is owed both to the children in terms of their education but also to them - and crucially their teachers and school staff - in terms of their health and safety too.

“Now the Minister has finally resolved to take this course of action we hope he will turn his attentions to vaccinations for the school population to ensure that roll-out is treated as a matter of urgency.”

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