Education minister: The call for volunteer teachers is a ‘contingency’ in case of staff absences

The Education Minister Peter Weir has extended an earlier appeal for volunteers to help schools stay open.

Most schools in Northern Ireland are now closed as part of the lockdown, but the minister has asked all schools to stay open for vulnerable children and children of frontline health staff and key workers.

The News Letter last week reported concern that some schools were setting their own criteria to stop making provision for such parents.

Asked by the News Letter why volunteers were considered necessary, a Stormont spokesperson said: “The Department is putting in place contingency plans should a high number of teaching or non-teaching staff be affected by Covid-19. We must ensure that provision is available for vulnerable children and the children of ‘key workers’.

“Volunteers from these calls will only be called upon when the availability of suitable teachers including substitute teachers has been exhausted.”

Asked if the volunteers would be paid, the department spokesperson confirmed that any registered volunteers from the department’s scheme will be unpaid.

Asked if teachers and other staff from schools which have closed might be re-deployed, the department said: “Schools will use their own available staff first; then other education sector staff; then teachers from the Northern Ireland Substitute Teachers’ Register; then the Volunteer Scheme from other sectoral employers.

“Volunteers will only be called upon when the availability of suitable teachers including substitute teachers has been exhausted.”

The News Letter also requested details about levels of absence amongst teaching staff, but the department said that information is “not yet available for Covid-19 related absences or self-isolation”.

The spokesperson continued: “Schools across Northern Ireland are playing a critical role in the country’s efforts to combat Covid-19 by remaining open to ensure provision is available for vulnerable children and for the children of ‘key workers’, so that services vital for the functioning of society, can keep operating. 

“Volunteers are being asked to provide essential support and assistance to our dedicated teaching and non-teaching staff in schools who are carrying out this vital role.”

The Ulster Teachers’ Union has been invited to comment.

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